ACC Basketball Recap – NC State 78, Pittsburgh 70

Jan. 24, 2026 | PNC Arena, Raleigh, N.C.

The takeaway: North Carolina State put together one of its most complete ACC performances of the season, using physical defense, timely perimeter shooting and a strong second-half push to defeat Pittsburgh 78–70 at PNC Arena. The Wolfpack controlled the tempo after halftime, forced key turnovers down the stretch and leaned on balanced scoring to secure a critical conference home win.

Score & line

• Final: NC State 78, Pittsburgh 70
• Halftime: NC State 36, Pittsburgh 33
• Records after the game: NC State improves to 14–6 overall, 4–4 ACC; Pittsburgh falls to 12–8 overall, 3–5 ACC

Key team stats

• NC State: 27-59 FG (45.8%), 9-21 3PT (42.9%), 15-19 FT (78.9%), 34 rebounds, 14 assists, 10 turnovers
• Pittsburgh: 24-61 FG (39.3%), 7-23 3PT (30.4%), 15-22 FT (68.2%), 31 rebounds

NC State’s efficiency from beyond the arc and ability to finish possessions at the free-throw line proved to be the difference, particularly late.

Standout performances

• DJ Horne (NC State): 21 points, 5 assists — hit multiple big threes to stop Pitt runs and controlled the game late.
• Michael O’Connell (NC State): 14 points, 6 assists — steady on-ball presence and strong perimeter defense.
• Ben Middlebrooks (NC State): 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks — anchored the paint on both ends.
• Jayden Taylor (NC State): 11 points, 5 rebounds — provided energy and defense on the wing.
• Blake Hinson (Pitt): 19 points — carried the Panthers offensively, especially in the first half.
• Federiko Federiko (Pitt): 12 points, 9 rebounds — battled inside but was limited by foul trouble.

How the game unfolded

First half: Back-and-forth battle

Pittsburgh arrived intent on slowing the pace and attacking inside early, using Hinson’s shot-making and strong offensive rebounding to keep pressure on the Wolfpack. NC State countered with ball movement and spacing, knocking down early threes to prevent Pitt from packing the paint.

The Panthers briefly grabbed a four-point lead midway through the half, but NC State answered with a 9–2 run, highlighted by a corner three from Horne and a Middlebrooks put-back dunk. The teams traded baskets in the final minutes, with NC State taking a 36–33 edge into halftime.

Second half: Wolfpack take control

NC State came out of the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, forcing Pitt into tough perimeter shots and limiting second-chance opportunities. A quick 10–3 run early in the half pushed the Wolfpack lead to double digits for the first time.

Horne and O’Connell repeatedly broke Pitt’s defensive pressure, while Taylor’s transition bucket ignited the PNC Arena crowd. Pitt attempted to rally behind Hinson, trimming the deficit to six with under eight minutes remaining, but NC State responded again.

Closing moments: Poise at the line

With the game tightening late, NC State executed offensively and took care of the basketball. A Horne step-back three with just over three minutes left extended the lead to nine, and the Wolfpack sealed the win by converting eight of their final ten free throws.

Defensively, NC State forced Pitt into contested looks on three straight possessions in the final two minutes, effectively ending the Panthers’ comeback hopes.

Player & coaching notes

• Balanced scoring: Four Wolfpack players finished in double figures, underscoring NC State’s depth and ability to score from multiple positions.
• Defensive discipline: NC State limited Pitt to just 30.4% shooting from three, closing out hard and rotating well on the perimeter.
• Paint presence: Middlebrooks’ interior defense altered shots and allowed NC State’s guards to apply pressure without fear of breakdowns inside.

Head coach Kevin Keatts praised his team’s second-half focus, particularly the ability to get quality shots late in the shot clock and close the game at the free-throw line.

Why NC State won

• Perimeter efficiency: The Wolfpack’s 9 made threes stretched Pitt’s defense and opened driving lanes.
• Late-game execution: NC State outscored Pitt 18–11 over the final seven minutes.
• Home-court energy: PNC Arena played a role as NC State fed off the crowd during decisive runs in both halves.

What’s next

NC State looks to build on the momentum as it continues ACC play with a road test later in the week, while Pittsburgh returns home searching for consistency as the conference schedule tightens.