NC State Extends ACC Win Streak to Six with Win Over Virginia Tech

NC State (18-6, 9-2 ACC) extended its ACC winning streak to six games on Saturday afternoon, defeating Virginia Tech (16-8, 5-6 ACC) 82-73 at the Lenovo Center. A trio of Wolfpack guards powered the victory, continuing a stretch of offensive consistency that has become the program’s calling card in recent weeks.

Sophomore Paul McNeil Jr. and senior guard Quadir Copeland led all scorers with 21 points apiece, each delivering in a different but equally impactful way.

McNeil Jr. stayed red-hot from deep, knocking down 4 of 7 three-pointers and finishing 5 of 8 from the field and 7 of 8 at the line. He added a team-high two blocks, continuing his emergence as a two-way weapon on the perimeter.

Copeland stuffed the stat sheet with one of the most complete performances of his career, posting 21 points, 10 assists, and 5 steals, the latter tying a career high. Efficient once again, Copeland shot 7 of 11 from the floor and recorded back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his collegiate career.

Senior Tre Holloman continued his upward trend, scoring 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 3 of 5 from three-point range. Holloman has now scored in double figures in three straight games, marking the first such stretch of his season.

Down low, senior Ven-Allen Lubin delivered his usual steady production, chipping in 11 points and 7 rebounds while converting 5 of 7 shots. Mr. Consistency once again made his presence felt without needing the spotlight.

As a team, NC State shot 51.9% from the field, the third time in the last four games the Wolfpack have eclipsed the 50% mark. While they didn’t match the 16 made threes from their previous outing, NC State still connected at a strong 42.9% from beyond the arc.

The Wolfpack controlled the game from start to finish, leading for 37:32 of the 40 minutes. Virginia Tech did attempt to mount a comeback in the second half after shooting just 25.8% before the break, catching fire at 59.4% in the final 20 minutes. The Hokies also made their mark on the offensive glass, securing seven offensive rebounds that turned into 17 second-chance points.

Still, the outcome never truly slipped from NC State’s grasp.

The Wolfpack is handling business with a level of consistency not seen in Raleigh in quite some time. There’s little room to linger on the result, however, as NC State heads back on the road to face #24 Louisville Cardinals on Monday night.