Pack Pulls Away to Beat Syracuse

Tuesday, January 27

Raleigh, NC

7 PM

NC State

15-6,6-2ACC

Syracuse

12-9,3-5ACC

Syracuse

NC State

1/27/2026 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RALEIGH, N.C. – The NC State men's basketball team (15-6, 6-2 ACC) pulled away in the second half to beat Syracuse (12-9, 3-5 ACC), 88-68, inside the Lenovo Center.

The Pack's third straight win gives NC State a 6-2 conference record and is the Pack's best start in ACC play since the 2005-06 team started 8-2.

Quadir Copeland, playing against his former team, was one assist short of a double-double as he finished with 19 points and nine assists. He added a game-high four steals.

Darrion Williams led the Pack with 23 points as he made 9-of-16 field goal attempts, including 5-of-9 from three-point range. He added six rebounds and five assists.

Ven-Allen Lubin was perfect from the field as he made all eight of his field goal attempts and made both of his free throws to finish with 18 points. Like Copeland, he finished one stat short of a double-double as Lubin finished with nine rebounds.

Musa Sagnia added a career-best 10 points while fellow freshman Matt Able tied his career-high with seven rebounds.

NC State's low post presence of Lubin and Sagnia combined for 28 points on 13-of-14 shooting and 13 rebounds in the Pack's win.

The Pack scored the first five points of the game and Syracuse was never able to catch NC State, but the Orange never went away either. NC State built an eight or nine point lead multiple times in the first half, but Syracuse always responded with a basket to stay in touch. The Orange scored the final four points of the first half to cut NC State's lead in half as the Pack went into the locker room with a 41-37 advantage.

The first eight minutes of the second half were just like the first half as the Pack looked capable of breaking the game open but Syracuse continued to have a response, getting as close as four, 55-51, with 11:50 to play.

The Pack finally was able to get some breathing room with a 9-2 run to take its first double-digit lead of the game, 64-53, with 9:31 to go.

Syracuse would get within nine, 70-61, with 5:32 to play, but the Pack put the game away for good with a 13-1 run over the 3:30 of game time.

The Orange was led by Donnie Freeman who had a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds.

NC State is back in action Saturday when it plays at Wake Forest. Tipoff in Winston-Salem is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. and the game will be televised on The CW.