North Carolina State University Athletics
Sunday, October 26
Greensboro, NC
4:30 PM
NC State
0-0,0-0ACC
88
vs
86
South Carolina (Exh.)
0-0,0-0SEC
1
2
F
South Carolina
45
41
86
NC State
38
50
88
McNeil's triple secures Pack's Exhibition Win over South Carolina
10/26/2025 7:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
GREENSBORO, N.C. – NC State men's basketball sophomore guard Paul McNeil, Jr., buried a three-pointer with under one second remaining to send the Pack to an 88-86, exhibition game win over South Carolina Sunday night inside First Horizon Center.
McNeil's triple came on the ensuing possession after the Gamecocks had taken a lead with a transition and-one basket to put themselves in front 86-85 with 11 seconds to go.
But after USC took the lead, Quadir Copeland brought the ball down the court and got the ball to McNeil with six seconds left. After a couple of dribbles, McNeil stepped back and launched a three-pointer over the outstretched arm of a South Carolina defender that swished through the rim with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock.
It didn't appear the Pack would even be in a position for McNeil's heroics with seven minutes to play as USC had gone on an extended 16-6 run to take a 79-68 lead with 7:33 to play.
But NC State turned up the defense over the next five minutes, holding South Carolina without a point over that stretch, to go on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 79.
After South Carolina scored a lay-up to retake the lead 81-79, the Pack rattled off the next six points to take its largest lead of the game at 85-81 with 1:13 to go.
But the Gamecocks were not done, USC made a layup to get within two with 46 seconds to play and then Kobe Knox tracked down a missed NC State three-pointer and raced in for a lay-up and foul to put USC back in front with 11 seconds to go.
Ven-Allen Lubin led four NC State players in double figures with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Copeland, Tre Holloman and Darrion Williams each added 16 points for the Pack. McNeil finished with nine points with all of his points coming on three-pointers.
South Carolina was led by Eli Ellis who scored 23 points and Meechie Johnson added 20.
The Pack is back in action Monday, Nov. 3 when it tips off the 2025-26 season by facing NC Central in front of sold-out crowd at the Lenovo Center.
McNeil's triple came on the ensuing possession after the Gamecocks had taken a lead with a transition and-one basket to put themselves in front 86-85 with 11 seconds to go.
But after USC took the lead, Quadir Copeland brought the ball down the court and got the ball to McNeil with six seconds left. After a couple of dribbles, McNeil stepped back and launched a three-pointer over the outstretched arm of a South Carolina defender that swished through the rim with 0.5 seconds remaining on the clock.
It didn't appear the Pack would even be in a position for McNeil's heroics with seven minutes to play as USC had gone on an extended 16-6 run to take a 79-68 lead with 7:33 to play.
But NC State turned up the defense over the next five minutes, holding South Carolina without a point over that stretch, to go on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 79.
After South Carolina scored a lay-up to retake the lead 81-79, the Pack rattled off the next six points to take its largest lead of the game at 85-81 with 1:13 to go.
But the Gamecocks were not done, USC made a layup to get within two with 46 seconds to play and then Kobe Knox tracked down a missed NC State three-pointer and raced in for a lay-up and foul to put USC back in front with 11 seconds to go.
Ven-Allen Lubin led four NC State players in double figures with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Copeland, Tre Holloman and Darrion Williams each added 16 points for the Pack. McNeil finished with nine points with all of his points coming on three-pointers.
South Carolina was led by Eli Ellis who scored 23 points and Meechie Johnson added 20.
The Pack is back in action Monday, Nov. 3 when it tips off the 2025-26 season by facing NC Central in front of sold-out crowd at the Lenovo Center.
Team Stats
SC
NCSU
FG%
.554
.544
3FG%
.414
.368
FT%
.800
.633
RB
32
29
TO
15
11
STL
4
9
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
5
Pts
16
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
16
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballF
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