Quadir Copeland scored 20 points to power North Carolina State to a resounding 82-58 upset win over No. 16 North Carolina on Tuesday night in Raleigh, N.C.
Copeland also collected six rebounds, seven assists and four steals in the win for the Wolfpack (19-8, 10-4 Atlantic Coast Conference). Matt Able scored 19 points on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc, Darrion Williams added 13 points, Paul McNeil scored 10 and former Tar Heels forward Ven-Allen Lubin tallied 12 points and six rebounds against his old team.
The 250th meeting between the Wolfpack and the Tar Heels (20-6, 8-5) marked the first victory in the series for first-year NC State coach Will Wade. The result also goes down as a Quad 1 win for the Wolfpack — their fourth of the season — and their second triumph over an AP Top 25 ranked opponent. More than bragging rights, this victory should boost NC State’s resume for the NCAA Tournament.
It’s the largest win for NC State against the Tar Heels since 1962.
Playing without leading scorers and rebounders Caleb Wilson (hand) and Henri Veesaar (lower body) due to injuries, North Carolina was paced by 13 points and 10 boards from Zayden High before he fouled out with under six minutes to play. Jarin Stevenson chipped in 13 points and nine rebounds.
NC State started the game with a 12-6 run, during which Williams scored seven points in the first five minutes. However, he had to leave the game briefly after bleeding heavily when his face hit the hardwood following a midair collision near the rim. Williams went to the locker room for stitches above his left eye and re-entered wearing jersey No. 34, since his usual No. 1 jersey was stained.
The Wolfpack were able to keep the Tar Heels at arm’s length for much of the game and closed the first half on a 13-6 run to take a 16-point advantage at the break. Lubin scored one tough basket over High in the first half and reacted to his former teammate with the “too small” signal.
The Tar Heels shot 1-for-16 from 3-point range in the first half, while NC State connected on five 3-pointers, three of which came from Able. Ultimately, the hole the Tar Heels dug was too deep to escape, as they never reduced the deficit to single digits in the second half.
Able padded his stats late, draining a 3-pointer with less than 90 seconds left to play, putting the Wolfpack ahead by 24 points. That’s the most North Carolina has trailed by in a game all season.
NC State tied its season-low in turnovers with just four and led for nearly 38 minutes.
The Wolfpack face another ranked opponent next Tuesday, traveling to No. 14 Virginia.
–Field Level Media
