NC State Basketball Crushed by Virginia: Struggles & Slow Start Continue | NCAA Basketball News
NC State Basketball Struggles in Road Loss to No. 11 Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, V.A. – NC State men’s basketball faced a significant challenge on the road Tuesday night, falling to No. 11 Virginia 90-61. The Wolfpack (19-9, 10-5 ACC) struggled from the outset and were unable to overcome a strong Cavalier performance.
The loss highlights ongoing inconsistencies for NC State as they navigate a competitive ACC landscape. Head coach Will Wade acknowledged the stark reality of the game, stating, “We’re not ready to compete with the top of the league right now. That’s just a fact. Got our doors blown off twice by Virginia. Virginia’s a great team, give them credit, they’re better than us, they’re better than us at almost every spot.”
NC State’s offensive struggles were immediately apparent, missing 11 of their first 12 shots. This cold start quickly put the Wolfpack behind, falling to a 15-5 deficit early in the game. Despite efforts to stay within striking distance, Virginia’s relentless offense proved too much to handle.
Virginia shot 53% from the field and 46% from three-point range, while NC State managed only 29% from the field and 27% from beyond the arc. The Cavaliers’ dominance extended to the paint, where they outscored the Wolfpack significantly.
Sophomore guard Paul McNeil provided a bright spot for NC State, scoring a team-high 22 points. While his three-point shooting was off – making just 3 of 12 attempts – McNeil effectively drove to the basket, scoring 13 points on layups and free throws. “We know that it’s unacceptable to the university, to our staff and to the fans,” McNeil said. “We just gonna pick it back up and be better for Saturday against Notre Dame.”
Defensively, NC State played inconsistently. While they held Virginia to 32 points in the first half, the Cavaliers exploded in the second, scoring 58 points while shooting 70% from the floor. UVA finished the night with 24 fastbreak points and 12 made three-pointers.
The second half also saw a brief but impactful disruption. A fight broke out early in the half, resulting in the ejection of NC State senior center Scottie Ebube for clearing the bench. Senior forward Darrion Williams and a UVA player, Sam Lewis, were given technical fouls for their involvement.
Wade stated he didn’t have a clear view of the incident, saying, “I was calling timeout and then whatever happened happened. I didn’t get to see it, didn’t get a good look at it, so I was trying to get a timeout.”
Senior guard Quadir Copeland, typically a key contributor for the Wolfpack, struggled to find his rhythm, getting into foul trouble and finishing with just three points. Wade commented, “The way he played today, I don’t know if him being on the court much more would have helped us.”
The Wolfpack has three regular season games remaining, beginning with a road trip to Notre Dame on Saturday, February 28, with tipoff scheduled for 12 p.m. And broadcast on the CW.
Wade acknowledged the team’s overall inconsistency this season, stating, “We just been up and down all year, this is kinda who we are. When we’re bad, we’re really really bad. That’s just kinda who we’ve been.”
The defeat underscores the gap between NC State and the top teams in the ACC, raising questions about their ability to consistently contend for conference honors.