Paul McNeil Jr. Catches Fire, Drains 11 Threes to Tie ACC Record in NC State Blowout
If you didn’t know Paul McNeil Jr.’s name before tonight, you do now. The NC State sophomore guard put on an absolute shooting clinic in the Wolfpack’s 108-72 rout of Texas Southern, torching the nets for 47 points and rewriting the program’s record books in the process.
Let’s start with the headline: McNeil Jr. knocked down 11 three-pointers, going 11-of-17 from deep. That’s not just a career night - it’s a historic one.
His performance set a new NC State single-game record for made threes, breaking a mark that had stood since 1989. That record belonged to Rodney Monroe, the school’s all-time leading scorer, who hit nine triples against UNC Asheville.
McNeil Jr. didn’t just break that record - he shattered it.
But it doesn’t stop there. McNeil Jr.’s 11 threes also tied the all-time ACC record, putting him in elite company alongside Dennis Scott (Georgia Tech, 1988) and Craig Dawson (Wake Forest, 2002). That’s the kind of performance that echoes through conference history - not just a hot hand, but a night that demands respect.
Here’s how the leaderboard stacks up now for most threes in a single game in NC State history:
- Paul McNeil Jr. - 11 vs.
Texas Southern (12/17/25)
2.
Rodney Monroe - 9 vs. UNC Asheville (12/21/89)
- Maverick Rowan - 8 vs.
Syracuse (2/1/17)
3.
Ralston Turner - 8 vs. Tennessee (12/17/14)
- **C.C.
Harrison** - 8 vs. North Carolina (2/21/98)
- Tom Gugliotta - 8 vs.
North Carolina (1/22/92)
3.
Migjen Bakalli - 8 vs. Maryland (2/27/91)
And here’s the updated list of ACC’s all-time single-game three-point leaders:
- Paul McNeil Jr. - 11 (17 attempts), NC State vs.
Texas Southern (12/17/25)
1.
Dennis Scott - 11 (19 attempts), Georgia Tech vs. Houston (12/28/88)
- Craig Dawson - 11 (17 attempts), Wake Forest at Clemson (2/13/02)
- Matt Farrell - 10 (13 attempts), Notre Dame at Boston College (2/17/18)
- Reyne Smith - 10 (17 attempts), Louisville at SMU (1/21/25)
What made McNeil Jr.’s performance so special wasn’t just the volume - it was the efficiency. Shooting 11-for-17 from deep is a ridiculous 64.7%, especially considering the level of difficulty on many of those looks.
He wasn’t just camping in the corner waiting for open shots - he was pulling up off the dribble, coming off screens, and hitting from NBA range. It was a complete display of perimeter scoring.
And then there’s the 47 points. That kind of scoring output is rare in college basketball, especially when it comes with such a dominant shooting performance.
It wasn’t just a good night - it was a takeover. McNeil Jr. controlled the game from start to finish, and Texas Southern simply had no answers.
For NC State, this kind of breakout from McNeil Jr. is a massive boost. The sophomore has shown flashes before, but this was a full-blown explosion. If he can build on this and become a consistent scoring threat from the perimeter, the Wolfpack offense becomes a whole lot more dangerous heading into conference play.
And for McNeil Jr.? This is the kind of night that puts you on the national radar. When you tie an ACC record and break a school record in the same game - while dropping nearly 50 points - people take notice.
Tonight, Paul McNeil Jr. didn’t just make shots. He made history.