Pack Falls to 21st-ranked Virginia

Saturday, January 3

Raleigh, NC

11 AM

NC State

10-5,1-1ACC

Virginia

12-2,1-1ACC

Virginia

NC State

1/3/2026 1:16:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

RALEIGH N.C. – The 21^st-ranked Virginia men's basketball team shot 50 percent from the field and made 13 three-pointers on its way to a 76-61 win over NC State on Saturday inside the Lenovo Center.

Entering Saturday's game against Virginia, NC State had limited its last six opponents to a combined 38.4 percent shooting, 28.7 percent from three-point range and was giving up just 62.7 points per game, but on Saturday the Cavaliers shot 50 percent and shot 39 percent from long range, making 13 three-pointers.

On the offensive side, NC State set season-lows in points (61), field goal percentage (36 percent) and assists (7).

The game was tight for the first 10 minutes, but Virginia broke the game open with a 15-2 run midway through the first half, turning a 15-11 advantage into a 30-13 lead on a Sean Lewis three-pointer with 5:30 left in the half.

The Cavaliers would eventually take a 40-20 lead into the halftime break. The 20 points are the fewest for NC State this season and the 20-point deficit was the largest halftime deficit for the Pack this season.

Two free throws to start the second half pushed Virginia's lead to 22, but NC State responded with an 18-4 run to get within eight, 46-38, on a Paul McNeil three-pointer with 14:39 to play.

But the Pack could get no closer as another UVA run, this one a 16-4 run, pushed UVA's advantage back to 22 and the Pack would never threaten again.

Quadir Copeland led NC State with 15 points while McNeil, Jr., chipped in 13. Alyn Breed scored a season-high 12 points with all 12 coming in the second half.

Virginia outrebounded NC State, 36-24, as the Pack is now 1-5 this season when it doesn't win the battle on the boards.

NC State is back in action Tuesday evening when it plays its first road game of the ACC slate, taking on Boston College in Conte Forum. Tipoff in Chestnut Hill is scheduled for 9 p.m. and the game will be televised on the ACC Network.