Pack Slips Past Mississippi State in Greensboro

Sunday, October 18

Greensboro, NC

4 PM

NC State

0-0,0-0ACC

Mississippi State

0-0,0-0SEC

Team	1	2	F
Mississippi St.	32	41	73
NC State	36	41	77

10/18/2026 7:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

GREENSBORO, N.C. - The NC State men's basketball team ended the game on a 12-2 run to defeat Mississippi State, 77-73, Sunday afternoon inside the First Horizon Coliseum.

A three-pointer with 2:50 remaining in the second half gave the Bulldogs a 71-65 advantage which was its largest lead of the game. After a timeout, NC State answered with a three-point Paul McNeil, Jr., play to cut the deficit in half with 2:21 to go.

After an MSU missed three-pointer, Ven-Allen Lubin scored down low to bring NC State within one, 71-70, with 1:48 to play.

Mississippi State milked the shot clock on the other end before getting a foul call right before the shot clock ran out, but MSU missed both free throws to give NC State the ball back with a chance to retake the lead.

The Pack went to Lubin again who was fouled and drained both free throws to give NC State a 72-71 lead with 1:00 left.

On the other end, Mississippi State again was fouled and went to the foul line and for the second consecutive trip, also missed both free throws.

Ven-Allen Lubin did not miss his free throws though as he went to the foul line with 21 seconds left and made both to push NC State's advantage to three, 74-71.

On the other end, R.J. Keene II stepped in front of an errant pass and was fouled, making one free throw to give the Pack a two possession advantage with 10 seconds left.

Mississippi State cut the deficit in half with two free throws with two seconds remaining, but McNeil, Jr., was fouled immediately after the inbounds pass and made both of his free throws to clinch the game for the Pack.

McNeil, Jr., and Preston Edmead each scored 16 points to lead the Pack while Darius Adams chipped in 14 points and recorded team-highs in rebounds (6) and assists (5).

Lubin added 13 points as he made 9-of-12 foul shots.

McNeil, Jr., finished just 3-of-11 from the field, including 1-of-7 from three-point range, but was a perfect 9-for-9 at the charity stripe.

The Pack won despite Mississippi State grabbing 18 offensive rebounds which helped give the Bulldogs a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint and a 15-9 advantage in second chance points.

NC State wraps up exhibition play Saturday, Oct. 24 when it hosts Lenoir-Rhyne at the Lenovo Center. The game is free to attend, with tipoff scheduled for noon.