NC State Wolfpack
The NC State Wolfpack stand as one of the ACC’s most resilient and passionate programs, a team defined by heart, tradition, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. From the electric atmosphere at Carter-Finley Stadium to the energy inside PNC Arena, the Pack continues to make its mark on both the conference and national stage.
Football
Articles by: Aaron Lewis
RALEIGH, N.C. — N.C. State dominated from start to finish Saturday night, rolling past rival North Carolina 42–19 behind a huge performance from short-yardage quarterback Will Wilson. Wilson punched in four rushing touchdowns and totaled 54 yards on the ground, including a powerful 15-yard run in the third quarter that capped one of the Wolfpack’s many long drives. Starting quarterback C.J. Bailey added to the offensive surge, tossing touchdown passes to Wesley Grimes and Justin Joly as the Wolfpack (7–5, 4–4 ACC) found the end zone on all four of their first-half possessions. The fast start helped N.C. State seize full control and hand Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick a rough ending to his debut college season. After the game, Bailey interrupted Wilson’s media session, throwing an arm around him and shouting, “The GOAT! Four touchdowns!” as the pair celebrated another rivalry win. The victory marks head coach Dave Doeren’s fifth straight triumph over UNC.
NC State earned a 21–11 victory over Florida State in a key game, clinching bowl eligibility for the Wolfpack, while the Seminoles continued to face challenges away from home.
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami wrapped up its scheduled home slate on Saturday — unless the College Football Playoff selection committee gives the Hurricanes reason to return. Carson Beck threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, two of them to Malachi Toney, as No. 16 Miami cruised to a 41–7 win over N.C. State. Beck finished 21 of 27 and connected on his final 13 passes, helping the Hurricanes (8–2, 4–2 ACC) secure their fifth victory of the season by at least 25 points — their most in a single year since 2002. “Just watch the film,” defensive lineman Ahkeem Mesidor said. “See what we look like when we’re locked in.” Hard Rock Stadium is already set to host two CFP games — the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1 and the national title game on Jan. 19 — and Miami hopes Saturday’s dominant showing strengthens its case for inclusion in the 12-team postseason field. Jakobe Thomas intercepted two passes in the opening quarter, taking one back for a score. Running back Girard Pringle Jr. broke out as well, rushing for 116 yards — surpassing his total from his first four appearances combined. Miami built a 41–0 advantage before rotating heavily in the fourth quarter on Senior Day. The Hurricanes outgained the Wolfpack 581–149; N.C. State entered the matchup averaging 454 yards per game in ACC play, second-best in the conference. Excluding a one-snap drive to close the first half, eight of N.C. State’s first ten possessions ended in either a punt or an interception. “Our punter was our bright spot, which tells you everything,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “Offense and defense just weren’t where they needed to be.” CJ Bailey went 17 of 30 for 120 yards for N.C. State (5–5, 2–4) and scored the Wolfpack’s lone touchdown with 2:18 left — keeping alive their streak of avoiding a shutout, now at 144 games dating back to Oct. 4, 2014. Miami entered the week ranked No. 15 in the CFP poll, the top-rated team from the ACC, and should be positioned to climb. “The way you perform speaks for itself — loudly,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. Takeaway: N.C. State has now surrendered at least 36 points in four straight outings — the program’s longest such stretch since late 2013, when it faced Duke, Boston College, East Carolina, and Maryland.
Georgia Tech’s Winning Streak Ends in 48-36 Loss at NC State Georgia Tech’s undefeated run came to a halt on the road, falling 48-36 to NC State in a game where the Yellow Jackets struggled to make stops and turned promising drives into field goals instead of touchdowns. NC State amassed nearly 600 total yards despite missing key contributors, including running back Hollywood Smothers and tight end Justin Joly. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech’s defense could manage only one stop in the first nine possessions, putting the Jackets in a hole they couldn’t climb out of.
DURHAM, N.C. – Duke (2-2, 1-0 ACC) overcame a 20-7 deficit to top NC State 45-33 on Saturday at Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium, fueled by a blocked field goal, three touchdown passes from quarterback Darian Mensah, and three rushing scores from Anderson Castle. The Blue Devils’ comeback came in just under four minutes, spanning the end of the second quarter and the start of the third, marking the 12th-largest rally in program history and the second time in consecutive ACC games that Duke overcame a 13-point deficit to win. Castle, a graduate, paced Duke with 92 rushing yards, while freshman Nate Sheppard contributed 61 on the ground. Receivers Cooper Barkate and Sahmir Hagans each surpassed 60 receiving yards and found the end zone once. Mensah finished 19-of-28 for 269 yards and three touchdowns, completing another strong outing under center.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest (2-1, 0-1 ACC) fell 34-24 to NC State (3-0, 0-1 ACC) on Thursday night at Allegacy Stadium in a hard-fought matchup. Redshirt freshman Chris Barnes continued his impressive start to the season, racking up 177 all-purpose yards. He electrified the crowd with a 98-yard kickoff return on the opening play and added a 70-yard reception that set up an early Wake Forest touchdown. Defensively, senior safety Nick Andersen led the Demon Deacons with 11 tackles, marking his seventh career game with double-digit stops and his third in the last seven contests dating back to last season.
Duke’s Turnover Takeover Sparks Comeback Against NC State. Key Plays: Duke trailed 20-7 before Tre Freeman’s 67-yard interception return late in the first half shifted the momentum. The Blue Devils then rattled off 21 straight points, including a last-second touchdown, to take a 21-20 lead into halftime. Second-Half Surge: Building on that momentum, Duke dominated the second half, with Anderson Castle accounting for three touchdowns. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 269 yards and three scores, keeping NC State on its heels. NC State’s Performance: CJ Bailey had a career day through the air with 364 passing yards, but three interceptions hurt the Wolfpack’s chances. Terrell Anderson stood out with 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Basketball:
Articles by: Vickie mathis
Paul McNeil Jr. said his record-setting night at NC State brought back familiar feelings, the same ones he had during his high school record game at Richmond. Different stage, same confidence, same results.
Men's Basketball
CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. — Boston College fell 79-71 to NC State on Tuesday night, dropping the Eagles to 7-8 overall and 0-2 in ACC play, while the Wolfpack improved to 11-5 and 2-1 in conference action. The Eagles were playing from behind early, trailing 7-5 midway through the opening minutes. Ball security proved to be an issue from the start, as Boston College committed three turnovers in the first few minutes. Guard Fred Payne accounted for all five of BC’s early points. NC State quickly found its rhythm on offense, using an efficient shooting stretch to open up a 20-10 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. During the run, the Wolfpack connected on four of five shots, including three from beyond the arc. Although NC State’s pace eased slightly following timeouts, Boston College was unable to capitalize. Continued turnover trouble and cold shooting allowed the Wolfpack to stay comfortably in front at 25-14 with 7:52 left before halftime. Boston College’s scoring during that span came from a Jayden Hastings layup and two free throws by Payne. The foul shots followed a technical assessed to NC State head coach Will Wade for disputing a call.
N.C. State pulled away in the second half on Saturday, topping UNC Asheville 75–63 in Raleigh behind a dominant stretch from Ven-Allen Lubin. After the break, Lubin poured in 19 of his 23 points and finished the afternoon shooting 9-of-11 from the field. He also hit all five free throws and collected 12 rebounds, securing his second double-double of the season as the Wolfpack (6–3) ended a two-game slide. Quadir Copeland and Matt Able added support with 13 points apiece. Copeland filled the stat sheet with eight assists and three steals, while Able knocked down three triples on five attempts. UNC Asheville (4–5) relied on a tight scoring group, with Kameron Taylor leading the way with 20 points. Justin Wright chipped in 16, DJ Patrick scored 15, and Toyaz Solomon added 12 — the only Bulldogs to register points. Tre Holloman supplied all eight of his points before halftime as N.C. State edged ahead 35–33. Early in the second half, Lubin scored three quick buckets and Copeland connected from deep, stretching the Wolfpack lead to 44–34 and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
AUBURN, Ala. — Kevin Overton delivered a breakout night with 29 points and nine rebounds, while Keyshawn Hall added 28 points and 10 boards as No. 20 Auburn took down NC State 83–73 in Wednesday’s ACC/SEC Challenge matchup. With the win, Auburn (7–2) extended its national-best streak to 65 straight nonconference home victories. Overton was efficient all night, knocking down 6-of-9 from deep and going a perfect 7-of-7 at the line. Hall crossed the 20-point mark for the sixth time this season as he powered Auburn on both ends. NC State (5–3) briefly surged back from an early hole, answering a 12-point deficit with a 13–0 run to grab the lead. Auburn quickly regained control, though, and held it the remainder of the night. Turnovers were Auburn’s biggest issue — 20 in total, with 13 in the opening half — and the Wolfpack turned those miscues into 22 points. Even so, the Tigers’ hot shooting carried them, finishing at 59% from the floor and 55% from long range. Auburn created separation in the second half with a 10–0 burst, capped by a Hall three, to push the lead to 66–54. Quadir Copeland paced NC State with 22 points, followed by Tre Holloman with 16 and Darrion Williams with 11. The crowd erupted late in the night when new football coach Alex Golesh was introduced, arriving from USF after the program moved on from Hugh Freeze.
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Jordan Pope delivered a standout performance with 28 points as Texas edged No. 23 N.C. State 102–97 on Wednesday night, securing fifth place at the Maui Invitational. The Longhorns (6–2) built a double-digit lead in the opening half—stretching it to 15 at one point—before N.C. State (5–2) surged back after the break to make it a tight finish. Pope did most of his damage from deep, knocking down five threes before halftime and ending the night 7-of-13 from long range. Texas was efficient across the board, hitting 16 threes at a 50% clip, shooting nearly 56% overall, and converting 28 of 33 attempts at the foul line.
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Darrion Williams led the way with 16 points as No. 23 N.C. State defeated Boise State 81-70 in a consolation matchup at the Maui Invitational on Tuesday. The Wolfpack (5-1) bounced back after an 11-point setback against Seton Hall the previous day, handing the Broncos (4-3) their second straight loss. Ven-Allen Lubin contributed a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, Terrance Arceneaux added 11 points, and Paul McNeil Jr. chipped in 10 points. For Boise State, Dylan Andrews scored 26 points, hitting five of the team’s 11 three-pointers. Pearson Carmichael had 11 points, and Javan Buchanan added 10 points and nine rebounds. N.C. State started hot, making their first five shots and opening an early 11-2 run. The Broncos countered with a 16-2 run, taking their biggest lead at 26-22 with 6:08 left in the first half. However, the Wolfpack finished the half on a 12-2 spurt to lead 34-28 at the break. Boise State opened the second half with an 11-2 run to grab a 39-36 advantage, but Quadir Copeland’s two free throws at 14:15 put N.C. State ahead for good at 44-42. Arceneaux’s three-pointer with 4:12 remaining gave the Wolfpack their largest lead of the game. N.C. State finished 27-of-54 from the field and 18-of-23 from the free-throw line, capitalizing on 15 Boise State turnovers for 24 points. The Broncos shot 19-of-56 from the field and made 21 of 32 free throws.
Seton Hall hands N.C. State first loss at Maui Invitational, 85–74 N.C. State’s highly anticipated debut at the Maui Invitational ended in disappointment as a strong Seton Hall squad handed the Wolfpack an 85–74 defeat. Ranked No. 22 in the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll and No. 23 in the AP Top 25, N.C. State (4–1) fell behind early and struggled to recover, trailing by double digits in the first half. The Pirates (6–0) extended their advantage to 18 points in the second half, controlling the game for nearly 39 minutes in a performance that highlighted turnovers and missed opportunities for coach Will Wade’s team.
Wolfpack Edges Rams: Takeaways from N.C. State's Victory. N.C. State secured a hard-fought 85-79 win against VCU, overcoming what was arguably their most challenging matchup of the young season. The victory sends the program formerly coached by Will Wade back to Richmond with their second loss, while allowing the Wolfpack to improve to 4-0 before their first road game. The contest was marked by mistakes on both sides, but N.C. State's late-game execution proved sufficient to seal the outcome. Darrion Williams and Holloman spearheaded the N.C. State offense, leading the team in scoring with 28 points and 25 points, respectively. The Wolfpack entered the game known for their high-powered offense, having averaged 106 points in their first three outings and ranking highly in national offensive efficiency metrics (e.g., in the top 25 in seven categories tracked by KenPom). However, VCU's defense successfully prevented N.C. State from generating any decisive runs or building an insurmountable lead throughout the game. VCU started the scoring with an early 1-point advantage before Williams put up the Wolfpack's first five points. The score was tied at 13 with 15:39 remaining in the first half. N.C. State responded with a 12-3 run to establish their largest lead, a nine-point advantage, but the Rams consistently stayed competitive.
Williams Scores 32 as N.C. State Blows Out UNC Greensboro 110-64 RALEIGH, N.C. – Darrion Williams erupted for 32 points, while Paul McNeil Jr. added 27, leading N.C. State to a dominant 110-64 victory over UNC Greensboro on Wednesday night. Williams was highly efficient, hitting 12 of 19 shots from the field, including six 3-pointers, helping the Wolfpack shoot 56 percent overall and 16 of 32 from beyond the arc. McNeil contributed five rebounds and six 3-pointers of his own, turning a 10-point halftime lead into a commanding advantage. Quadir Copeland added 13 points and six assists, and N.C. State’s bench scored 25 points, with Jerry Deng contributing nine and Matt Able adding 10. The game was effectively put away early in the second half with a 19-6 run, sparked by three 3-pointers from Williams in a four-minute stretch. A McNeil triple with 7:45 left pushed the lead to 83-54, and back-to-back 3s from Williams extended it to 96-54 with just over four minutes remaining. For UNC Greensboro (0-3), Donald Whitehead Jr. led the way with 21 points, including four of the Spartans’ eight total 3-pointers. Justin Neely added nine points and 13 rebounds. UNCG shot just 32 percent as a team, committed 15 turnovers, and were outscored 63-27 after halftime. N.C. State dominated the glass 43-33 and recorded nine steals and four blocks.
Copeland, McNeil Jr. Lead NC State to 94-70 Win Over UAB RALEIGH, N.C. – Quadir Copeland and Paul McNeil Jr. each scored 18 points as NC State rolled past UAB 94-70 on Friday night. Tre Holloman and Darrion Williams added 14 points apiece for the Wolfpack, who shot an efficient 54% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc, with four of five starters reaching double figures. Musa Sagnia pulled down 10 rebounds, while Copeland contributed five assists. For UAB, Jacob Meyer led the way with 15 points, Chance Westry added 14, and Daniel Rivera chipped in 12. NC State’s defense was a key factor, holding the Blazers to 41% shooting overall and just 16% from three-point range. The Wolfpack also narrowly edged UAB on the boards, 38-35. The Blazers’ last lead came just over a minute into the game at 6-5 after four lead changes. NC State then went on a 13-4 run to take control and never looked back.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Darrion Williams poured in 19 points to lead seven NC State players in double figures as the Wolfpack rolled past NC Central, 114–66, on Monday in their season opener. Paul McNeil added 16 points, while Quadir Copeland and Tre Holloman each finished with 15. Off the bench, Matt Able scored 14 and Jerry Deng chipped in 12, with Ven-Allen Lubin contributing 10 more. NC State was efficient all night, hitting 57.8% of its shots (37 of 64) and knocking down 19 threes on 40 attempts. Leading 22–16 with just under 12 minutes left in the first half, the Wolfpack broke the game open with a 13–0 burst and carried a 54–26 advantage into the break. For NC Central, Greg Lattimore led the way with 20 points, and Khouri Carvey followed with 19. The matchup also served as the first game for new NC State head coach Will Wade. Hired on March 23 after taking McNeese to a 58–11 record and consecutive Southland titles, Wade inherited a roster that required a full rebuild. Only one scholarship player returned from last year’s 12–19 squad—Paul McNeil Jr.—along with walk-on Jordan Snell.
Women's basketball
Depth Issues Surface as NC State Women Drop Road Test at Clemson. The Wolfpack were unable to keep pace late and fell 75-65 to the Tigers on Thursday night at Littlejohn Coliseum, slipping to 11-5 overall and 4-1 in conference action. After a promising offensive showing against Cal, where she scored 13 points, junior guard Qadence Samuels struggled to find a rhythm. She finished 2-of-10 from the floor and went scoreless from three-point range on five attempts. With Pierre unavailable in the fourth quarter and Clemson sending extra defenders at Trygger, Samuels saw increased chances to create offense but was unable to convert those opportunities.
NC State earned its first ACC victory of the season in convincing fashion, rolling past Miami 87–61 on the road. The Wolfpack set the tone defensively, limiting the Hurricanes to just 36.5% shooting while turning 13 takeaways into 18 points. Khamil Pierre led the way with a dominant performance, posting 21 points and a game-best 13 rebounds. Zamareya Jones added 16 points to go along with four assists, two boards, and a steal, while Zoe Brooks and Destiny Lunan chipped in 11 points apiece to round out a balanced scoring effort. Miami was paced by Vittoria Blasigh, who knocked down four shots from beyond the arc on her way to 22 points. Ra Shaya Kyle recorded another double-double for the Hurricanes, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds, but Miami was unable to keep pace with NC State’s depth and defensive pressure.
RALEIGH — Coming off a tough loss to ninth-ranked Oklahoma in the ACC/SEC Women’s Challenge, NC State looked to reset at home in its final non-league test before conference play. The Wolfpack had to battle for it, but they managed to fend off Seton Hall on Sunday, securing a 61–53 win over the Pirates.
NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma freshman standout Aaliyah Chavez put together her biggest performance of the season, dropping 33 points as No. 9 OU outlasted NC State 103–98 in overtime during Wednesday’s ACC/SEC Challenge. Chavez, who scored 29 in her previous outing against Florida State, continued her hot streak while leading the Sooners (8–1) to their seventh straight victory. Oklahoma also topped the 100-point mark for the fourth game in a row. Sahara Williams and Raegan Beers each added 21 points as OU kept its momentum rolling after an early-season loss to UCLA. NC State (5–4) battled throughout, getting 25 points from Zoe Brooks, a massive 19-point, 20-rebound night from Khamil Pierre, and an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double from Tilda Trygger. The Wolfpack dominated the boards 57–48 but couldn’t close it out in the extra period. The opening quarter saw Chavez put up 11 points to give OU a slim 23–21 edge. NC State answered with a strong second frame, taking a 45–38 halftime lead behind three players in double figures and Pierre’s 10-point, 11-rebound start. The Wolfpack stretched their advantage to 10 in the third before Chavez sparked a rally, attacking the rim and scoring eight in the quarter to cut the gap to 70–65. OU didn’t regain control until the closing minutes of regulation, when Williams knocked down two free throws to put the Sooners ahead 89–88 — their first lead since the opening half. Trygger hit one of two at the line with 42 seconds left to force overtime, but Oklahoma’s offense took over from there.
CANCUN, Mexico — Khamil Pierre powered N.C. State with 18 points and 16 rebounds as the Wolfpack rolled past Southern Miss 110–56 on Friday, setting a Cancun Challenge record for most points scored in a game. It was a balanced offensive showcase for N.C. State (5–3), which had seven players reach double figures. The victory also marked the program’s largest win margin since their 90–35 rout of Elon on Nov. 15, 2023. The performance followed Pierre’s dominant 21-rebound outing in Thursday’s win over Green Bay. Tilda Trygger added 16 points and nine boards, while Zamareya Jones and Zoe Brooks chipped in 14 points apiece. Qadence Samuels scored 11, and Jones also orchestrated the offense with eight of the team’s 25 assists. Off the bench, Destiny Lunan contributed 11 points and Adelaide Jernigan added 10 to round out the Wolfpack’s strong showing.
RALEIGH, N.C. — Vanessa Harris scored 15 points, including five during a decisive late 9–1 run, to help Rhode Island pull off one of its biggest upsets in program history with a 68–63 win over No. 16 N.C. State on Sunday. Harris hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:56 remaining to put the Rams ahead 64–63. N.C. State missed its final two attempts and turned the ball over twice, while Palmire Mbu added a layup with 58 seconds left and Ines Debroise iced the victory with two free throws in the final six seconds. Rhode Island (6–1) had previously only beaten one ranked team, a 60–58 home victory over Princeton on Dec. 3, 2023. Mbu contributed 14 points, Debroise added 13, and Brooklyn Gray scored 12. For the Wolfpack (3–3), Zamareya Jones led with 17 points, followed by Khamil Pierre with 14. N.C. State had been dominant at home against non-conference opponents, with a 70–3 record in such games, including a 69–58 loss to No. 17 TCU earlier this season. Rhode Island seized an early advantage with a 9–0 run late in the first quarter, fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Harris, to take a 20–14 lead. N.C. State narrowed the gap to 20–18 by the end of the quarter and later regained the lead when Qadence Samuels scored five consecutive points. Mbu closed the first half with six straight points to give the Rams a 33–30 halftime edge.
RALEIGH – No. 16 NC State bounced back on Wednesday with a 71–58 win over Coastal Carolina, controlling the matchup for nearly the entire game. NC State spread the scoring around with 10 players contributing, and Maddie Cox delivered a standout performance, totaling 11 points, her best mark so far in an NC State uniform. The Wolfpack also moved the ball well, finishing with a season-high 20 assists, led by Zoe Brooks and Zamareya Jones, who each handed out eight. A dominant 14–0 surge in the first quarter helped NC State take an early 18–7 lead. After Coastal briefly went ahead 7–4, NC State shut the Chanticleers down for the final 7:38 of the opening period. Cox scored eight points in that stretch alone, matching her previous career high before the first quarter even ended. Cox continued her hot start by knocking down her third three-pointer early in the second quarter, pushing her into double figures. NC State kept Coastal from scoring a field goal for more than 13 minutes, with the Chanticleers breaking the drought only with a pair of free throws late in the half. The Wolfpack closed the period strong and carried a 34–13 advantage into the break. NC State’s defense was sharp in the opening half, limiting Coastal Carolina to 16% shooting overall and 1-for-16 from beyond the arc, while turning 15 turnovers into 18 points. Coastal responded after halftime, putting together a strong stretch to outscore NC State 23–8 in the early part of the third quarter and pulling within nine. The Pack answered with a short run to restore control, taking a 53–39 lead into the fourth. The Wolfpack connected on three early threes in the final quarter—two from Destiny “Ky’She” Lunan—and a deep shot from Jones pushed the margin back to 17. Coastal closed the gap slightly down the stretch, but NC State maintained command despite being outscored 45–37 in the second half.
RALEIGH — The No. 10/9 NC State women’s basketball team fell at home to No. 17/12 TCU, 69–59, ending the Wolfpack’s 24-game home winning streak. Tilda Trygger led NC State with 15 points, Ky’She Lunan added 10, and Khamil Pierre reached the 1,000-point career milestone. NC State opened the game with a three from Qadence Samuels, but TCU answered with an 8–0 surge as the Pack missed nine straight shots. A putback from Zoe Brooks finally stopped the drought, but another scoring lull allowed the Horned Frogs to add seven more unanswered points. NC State then closed the first quarter strong with an 8–0 burst capped by a last-second jumper from Trygger, narrowing the gap to 15–13. The Wolfpack strung together a 9–0 run early in the second, including a three by Maddie Cox that tied things at 20. A Trygger three helped NC State push ahead 31–26 before the Horned Frogs responded. TCU closed the half with 10 straight points as the Pack went the final 3:26 without scoring, giving TCU a 36–31 halftime lead. Trygger hit another three to open the third, but TCU countered with consecutive makes from deep to build a double-digit advantage. The Horned Frogs controlled the period, outscoring NC State 20–9 while holding the Pack to 3-for-15 shooting, and led 56–40 entering the fourth. Pierre sparked an 8–0 NC State run to start the final quarter, cutting the margin to single digits. TCU pushed the lead back to 13, but the Wolfpack continued to battle, getting within seven after a Lunan three with just over two minutes to play. Despite outscoring TCU 19–13 in the final frame, NC State couldn’t complete the comeback and fell 69–59.
No. 10 NC State Overcomes Early Shooting Slump to Top Maine 66-47 After opening the season with two ranked matchups on neutral courts, No. 10 NC State women’s basketball returned home to face Maine, a mid-major opponent, with high expectations. The Wolfpack struggled out of the gate, scoring just nine points on 17 percent shooting in the first quarter and showing little offensive rhythm through the first half. Everything changed late in the second quarter following a media timeout with under five minutes left. NC State surged on a 13-3 run, sparked by junior guard Zoe Brooks, who scored seven points in three minutes. That shift in energy carried into the second half, where the Wolfpack took control and cruised to a 66-47 win.
Trojans Rally from Double-Digit Deficit to Edge No. 9 NC State at Ally Tipoff CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No. 18 USC women’s basketball mounted a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback to defeat No. 9 NC State 69-68 at the Ally Tipoff Event on Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Spectrum Center. The victory marks the Trojans’ first AP Top-10 win since defeating No. 2 UCLA on March 1, 2025. Freshman guard Jazzy Davidson led the charge with a career-high 21 points, igniting a crucial run early in the fourth quarter that swung momentum in USC’s favor. Davidson also contributed five blocks, four assists, four rebounds, and three steals. Senior guard Londynn Jones added 19 points, including four three-pointers, while sophomore Kennedy Smith provided a steady 10 points and eight rebounds. The contest was tightly contested from the tip, with 13 lead changes showcasing the back-and-forth battle between these two powerhouse programs. At halftime, NC State held a slim 34–33 advantage, as USC relied on Jones’ perimeter shooting and Smith’s rebounding to stay close. The Wolfpack leaned on their interior presence, controlling the paint and creating second-chance opportunities early, but the Trojans’ defensive pressure hinted at a potential momentum shift. USC’s comeback began with just under 10 minutes remaining, trailing 61–50. Davidson’s three-pointer broke NC State’s momentum, followed by a second-chance finish from Laura Williams, cutting the deficit to single digits. The Trojans capitalized on Wolfpack turnovers, with Smith scoring key baskets at the rim and Jones hitting timely jumpers. Jones’ fast-break three with 1:26 left brought USC within two, and Gerda Raulušaitytė converted a transition layup to make it a one-point game. Davidson then scored at the rim with eight seconds remaining to give USC the lead, and Smith sealed the win with a final steal as time expired. USC dominated the glass late, finishing with 40 rebounds and 15 second-chance points, overcoming NC State’s early dominance led by Khamil Pierre’s 18 rebounds. The Trojans also forced 18 turnovers while committing only seven themselves.
NC State Holds Off Tennessee 80-77 in Thrilling Season Opener NC State opened its season with a nail-biter, edging Tennessee 80-77 thanks to key contributions from Khamil Pierre and Zam Jones. Pierre recorded a dominant double-double with 21 points and 14 rebounds, while Jones came up big in the fourth quarter, scoring nine of her 18 points to help seal the win. Tennessee rallied from an eight-point deficit in the third quarter and even took a 77-76 lead with 54 seconds remaining, but the Wolfpack managed to hold on in the closing moments for a hard-fought season-opening victory.