Copeland’s Splendid Play; Pack’s Three-Point Barrage Sends NC State to win at SMU

Tuesday, February 3

Dallas, TX

9 PM

NC State

17-6,8-2ACC

SMU

15-7,4-5ACC

NC State

SMU

Copeland’s Splendid Play; Pack’s Three-Point Barrage Sends NC State to win at SMU

2/3/2026 11:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DALLAS, TX – NC State men's basketball senior Quadir Copeland passed out 16 assists and the Pack made 16 three-pointers as NC State overcame a 13-point first half deficit to win at SMU Tuesday night, 84-83.

With the win, NC State improves to 17-6, 8-2 in the ACC and has now won six consecutive conference road games.

Copeland's performance put his name in the record books as his 16 assists tie for the fourth-most in a single game in program history. They are most by an NC State player since Dennis Smith, Jr., had 16 in a win over Rider on Dec. 28, 2016.

Copeland is the first Division I player to log 16 assists and zero turnovers since Belmont's Grayson Murphy did so in 2019.

The Philadelphia, Pa., native also grabbed a season-best 10 rebounds as he fell three points shy of the sixth triple-double in program history.

Darrion Williams scored a game-high 25 points as he made six three-pointers in the win. Williams has now made five or more three-pointers in three consecutive games. His 25 points are the most for him since he scored 28 points in the Pack's win over VCU back on Nov. 17.

Matt Able chipped in 13 points, 11 in the second half and Tre Holloman and Ven-Allen Lubin each added 11.

The Pack trailed by eight at the half, 42-34, and we're not able to cut into the margin in the first six-and-a-half minutes of the final period as the Mustangs still held a 58-50 lead with 13:30 to play.

Williams started the Pack's takeover with a three-pointer and then Able had a three-point play to get the NC State within two, 58-56, with 12:22 to go.

After SMU doubled its lead to four, Lubin scored down low and then Able made a three-pointer from the corner to give NC State a 61-60 lead with 10:57 to play.

NC State would never trail again.

The Pack would extend the 11-2 run it was on to a 26-6 run as NC State would eventually build its lead to 76-64 on a Terrance Arceneaux three-point play with 6:50 to go.

SMU would battle back though as the Mustangs scored nine straight points to get within three, 76-73, with 4:08 remaining.

Williams made a three-pointer on the Pack's next possession to take a 79-73 lead and NC State kept a two possession lead until a three-pointer by Corey Washington got the Mustangs within three, 84-81, with just under a minute to play.

NC State would miss a shot on its next possession and SMU would draw closer on a layup with 22 seconds to play.

The Pack missed two free throws on its next possession and the Mustangs got the ball back with 14 seconds left and a chance to win, but Holloman stepped up and blocked SMU's final shot attempt and Lubin snatched the rebound to preserve the NC State win.

NC State would finish the game 16-of-36 from three-point. The sixth time this season it has made 16 or more three-pointers in a game. The Pack was 10-of-18 from long range in the final 20 minutes.

The Pack made five of its six three point attempts during its 25-6 run in the second half.

NC State had jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the early going, but SMU took its first lead of the game on a three-pointer to make the score 15-12 with 12:54 left in the first half. The Mustangs held the lead for the rest of the half, but could never gain any separation from the Pack until a 10-0 SMU run gave them a 42-29 lead with 2:03 left in the period. NC State scored the final five points of the half to cut the deficit to eight, 42-34, at the halftime break.

Jaron Pierre Jr., led SMU with 23 points.

The Pack is back in action Saturday when it faces Virginia Tech inside the Lenovo Center. Tipoff against the Hokies is scheduled for noon and the game will be televised on The CW.