North Carolina State University Athletics
Thursday, March 12
Charlotte, NC
12 PM
NC State
20-13,10-8ACC
74
vs
81
Virginia
28-4,15-3ACC
1st half1
2nd half2
FinalF
NC State
32
42
74
Virginia
33
48
81
McNeil, Jr.’s 26 Points Not Enough as Pack Falls to UVA
3/12/2026 3:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The seventh-seeded NC State men's basketball team (20-13, 10-8 ACC) fell to second-seed and 10th-ranked Virginia, 81-74, Thursday in the quarterfinals of the 2026 T. Rowe Price ACC Men's Basketball Tournament.
Paul McNeil, Jr., led the way for NC State with a game-high 26 points. The Rockingham, N.C., made six three-pointers in the game and now has 102 made three-pointers on the season. He is now the fourth player in program history to make 100 or more three-pointers in a season, joining DJ Horne, Rodney Monroe and Scott Wood as the only players in program history to accomplish that feat.
Ven-Allen Lubin posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Cavaliers and also blocked three shots.
Matt Able was the final NC State player in double figures with 12 points.
Quadir Copeland finished with nine points, a game-high six assists and blocked a career-high three shots.
Virginia led by one, 33-32 at halftime, and its lead was still just one, 46-45, five minutes into the second half when the Cavaliers went on a 9-0 run to take a 55-45 lead with 11:47 to play.
NC State would battle back, cutting the deficit to six points numerous times and even got within four, 78-74, and had the ball with 27 seconds left in the game, but the Pack couldn't score to get any closer and Virginia made three of its final four free throw attempts in the final 12 seconds to put the game away.
Malik Thomas led Virginia with 16 points. Thijs De Ridder added 15, Jacari White had 13 and Sam Lewis finished with 12 points.
Ugonna Onyenso finished the game with eight blocks.
Virginia finished the game with a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint and had a 15-0 advantage in fast break points.
The Pack made 11 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from long range, but Virginia shot 48 percent from downtown and made 12 three-pointers.
NC State will now turn its focus to postseason play. The NCAA Selection Show will air on CBS on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Paul McNeil, Jr., led the way for NC State with a game-high 26 points. The Rockingham, N.C., made six three-pointers in the game and now has 102 made three-pointers on the season. He is now the fourth player in program history to make 100 or more three-pointers in a season, joining DJ Horne, Rodney Monroe and Scott Wood as the only players in program history to accomplish that feat.
Ven-Allen Lubin posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds against the Cavaliers and also blocked three shots.
Matt Able was the final NC State player in double figures with 12 points.
Quadir Copeland finished with nine points, a game-high six assists and blocked a career-high three shots.
Virginia led by one, 33-32 at halftime, and its lead was still just one, 46-45, five minutes into the second half when the Cavaliers went on a 9-0 run to take a 55-45 lead with 11:47 to play.
NC State would battle back, cutting the deficit to six points numerous times and even got within four, 78-74, and had the ball with 27 seconds left in the game, but the Pack couldn't score to get any closer and Virginia made three of its final four free throw attempts in the final 12 seconds to put the game away.
Malik Thomas led Virginia with 16 points. Thijs De Ridder added 15, Jacari White had 13 and Sam Lewis finished with 12 points.
Ugonna Onyenso finished the game with eight blocks.
Virginia finished the game with a 30-16 advantage in points in the paint and had a 15-0 advantage in fast break points.
The Pack made 11 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from long range, but Virginia shot 48 percent from downtown and made 12 three-pointers.
NC State will now turn its focus to postseason play. The NCAA Selection Show will air on CBS on Sunday at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
NCSU
UVa
FG%
.368
.475
3FG%
.500
.480
FT%
.875
.786
RB
33
34
TO
10
10
STL
5
6
Game Leaders
Pts
26
FGM
7
3FGM
6
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
8
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's Basketball
G
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