ACC Basketball – NC State 84, SMU 83 — Game recap (Feb. 3, 2026)

The takeaway: In a dramatic ACC road victory, the NC State Wolfpack pulled out a thrilling 84–83 win over the SMU Mustangs on Tuesday night in Dallas. After trailing for much of the first half and facing a late push from SMU, State’s poise down the stretch — including clutch defense and big plays from its backcourt and playmaker Quadir Copeland — propelled the Pack to a one-point road triumph. (NC State University Athletics)

Score & line

• Final: NC State 84, SMU 83 (1H: 34–42; 2H: 50–41). (ESPN.com)
• Records after the game: NC State improved to 17–6 (8–2 ACC); SMU fell to 15–7 (4–5 ACC). (NC State University Athletics)

Key stats

• NC State: 28-61 FG (45.9%), 16-36 3PT (44.4%), 12-20 FT (60.0%), 34 rebounds, 16 assists, 0 turnovers by Copeland despite his high usage. (ESPN.com)
• SMU: 28-61 FG (45.9%), 12-20 3PT (60.0%), 15-18 FT (83.3%), 31 rebounds, 7 assists. (ESPN.com)

Top performers:

• Darrion Williams (NC State): 25 points, scoring with efficiency and attacking the rim to draw fouls and keep SMU off balance. (NC State University Athletics)
• Quadir Copeland (NC State): 16 assists, 10 rebounds — a career night distributing the ball and a rare zero-turnovers game, tying the program record for assists in a game. (NC State University Athletics)
• Matt Able (NC State): 13 points — key perimeter scoring that helped fuel the comeback and keep the Wolfpack ahead down the stretch. (NC State University Athletics)
• Tre Holloman & Ven-Allen Lubin (NC State): 11 points each — crucial scoring diversity and hustle plays, including Holloman’s late game-saving block. (NC State University Athletics)
• Jaron Pierre Jr. (SMU): 23 points — led the Mustangs with hot scoring that kept SMU competitive throughout. (NC State University Athletics)
• Boopie Miller (SMU): 14 points — took final shot attempt in crunch time. (NC State University Athletics)

Game flow — the moments that mattered

• First half control by SMU: The Mustangs opened strong, building a 10-point lead by halftime (42–34) behind a series of threes and physical play in the paint. Pittsburgh native Jaron Pierre Jr. and Boopie Miller fueled SMU’s early advantage as NC State struggled to find rhythm. (Backing The Pack)
• Wolfpack comeback: NC State reeled off an 11–2 run early in the second half to take its first lead at 61–60, sparked by Matt Able’s timely three and quick ball movement that opened up clean looks. The Pack then extended the lead to double digits later on a Terrance Arceneaux three-point play that made it 75–64 with a little over six minutes remaining. (NC State University Athletics)
• Late SMU push: SMU didn’t fold — the Mustangs chipped away, scoring nine straight to trim the deficit to 76–73. A late three by Corey Washington brought SMU within one, 84–83, setting up the dramatic final 20 seconds. (NC State University Athletics)
• Final defensive stand: After NC State missed free throws with just over 15 seconds left, SMU got the ball back with a chance to win. On the final possession, Tre Holloman’s lockdown defense and a game-saving block on Miller’s layup attempt sealed the narrow Pack victory. (NC State University Athletics)

Player & coaching notes

• Copeland’s historic night: Quadir Copeland’s 16 assists tied for the fourth-most in program history and, notably, he did so without a turnover — the first Division I player to post such a line since 2019. His floor leadership turned difficult possessions into high-quality looks all night. (NC State University Athletics)
• Balanced scoring: NC State hit 16 three-pointers, marking its sixth game this season with 16+ made threes. That perimeter efficiency helped overcome SMU’s strong interior scoring and kept defensive rotations honest. (NC State University Athletics)
• Resilience and depth: The Wolfpack’s bench — particularly Matt Able — provided essential scoring bursts. Coach Kevin Keatts praised his team’s poise, noting that overcoming a double-digit deficit on the road in ACC play is a hallmark of his squad’s growth. (NC State University Athletics)
• SMU fight: The Mustangs showed grit in building a first-half lead and again in their late push. Pierre Jr.’s scoring and Miller’s willingness to take late big shots kept SMU in a position to win until the final defensive sequence. (NC State University Athletics)

Why NC State won

• Elite distribution: Copeland’s 16 assists — with zero turnovers — turned possessions into points consistently, and NC State’s ball movement was a decisive edge. (NC State University Athletics)
• Perimeter efficiency: Making 16 three-pointers helped the Wolfpack stay in control even when SMU’s offense got hot — those looks stretched the defense and created driving lanes. (NC State University Athletics)
• Clutch defense: The final sequence — with Holloman’s key block — epitomized NC State’s late-game focus on stops when it mattered most. (NC State University Athletics)

Quick look ahead

NC State will return home to host Virginia Tech on Saturday as it looks to sustain its momentum in ACC play. SMU travels to face Pittsburgh in its next matchup, hoping to rebound from the narrow loss. (NC State University Athletics)