NC State 96, Wake Forest 78 — Game recap (Jan. 31, 2026)

The takeaway: The NC State Wolfpack delivered one of their most explosive offensive performances of the season in a 96–78 victory over in-state rival Wake Forest. From the opening tip, State attacked the rim, spaced the floor with hot three-point shooting and never let the Demon Deacons seriously threaten, building a dominant first-half advantage and then answering every run Wake Forest attempted in the second half. (CBS Sports)

Score & line

• Final: NC State 96, Wake Forest 78. (Halftime: Wolfpack 49, Demon Deacons 31.) (CBS Sports)
• Records after the game: NC State improved to 16–6 overall, 7–2 ACC; Wake Forest fell to 11–11 overall, 2–7 ACC. (CBS Sports)

Key stats

• NC State: Shot 54% overall, including 9-15 (60%) from three-point range, and paced its attack with strong ball movement and balanced scoring. The Pack also won the rebounding battle early and forced Wake Forest into tough shots throughout. (CBS Sports)
• Wake Forest: Despite flashes of offense — including a career night from Juke Harris — the Deacons struggled to contain State’s shooters and couldn’t match the Wolfpack’s efficiency on either end of the court. (Blogger So Dear)

Top performers:

• Paul McNeil Jr. (NC State): 28 points, including six three-pointers — a lethal night from deep that set the tone offensively. (CBS Sports)
• Darrion Williams (NC State): 20 points, consistently attacking off the dribble and helping stretch the defense all night. (CBS Sports)
• Ven-Allen Lubin (NC State): 12 points, 8 rebounds — tough inside presence that anchored Wolfpack rebounding. (CBS Sports)
• Tre Holloman (NC State): 10 assists — controlled the pace and found open shooters throughout. (CBS Sports)
• Juke Harris (Wake Forest): 31 points — a standout effort in defeat; his scoring kept Wake in stretches of the second half. (CBS Sports)
• Omaha Biliew (Wake Forest): 12 points — one of the few other Demon Deacons in double figures. (Blogger So Dear)

Game flow — the moments that mattered

• Fast start and dominant first half: NC State exploded early, hitting threes and exploiting mismatches off the dribble. Behind McNeil’s early shooting surge and balanced scoring from Williams and Lubin, the Wolfpack opened up a 49–31 lead at halftime. (CBS Sports)
• Hot perimeter shooting sets the tone: With 60% accuracy from three in the first half, State’s spacing forced Wake Forest defenders to scramble — opening driving lanes and preventing the Deacons from setting help defense effectively. (CBS Sports)
• Wake’s brief second-half rally: Wake Forest trimmed the lead to 62–54 midway through the second half, sparked by Harris’ scoring and some open looks. But NC State responded immediately — McNeil hit a deep triple, and a 12-3 run capped by his free throws and layup re-established a double-digit edge. (CBS Sports)
• Closing out with control: The Wolfpack never relinquished the lead again. With State’s offense firing and Wake’s shots going cold, NC State maintained a comfortable advantage the rest of the way. (CBS Sports)

Player & coaching notes

• McNeil’s leadership: Paul McNeil Jr. was lethal from deep — his six triples were a game-high and kept Wake’s defense from focusing too heavily on any single scorer. (CBS Sports)
• Balanced contributions: While McNeil led the way, Williams and Lubin complemented him with efficient scoring and rebounding, and Holloman’s playmaking kept the Wolfpack offense moving smoothly. (CBS Sports)
• Wake Forest effort: Juke Harris’ 31-point night was a bright spot for the Demon Deacons, but his production wasn’t enough support an offense that struggled with consistency beyond his scoring. (CBS Sports)

Why NC State won

• Perimeter accuracy: Nearly 60% from three in the first half set a foundation that Wake Forest could never shake. (CBS Sports)
• Efficient offense: State shot over 50% from the field and moved the ball effectively — creating open looks and minimizing wasted possessions. (CBS Sports)
• Composure through swings: Even when Wake made brief runs, the Wolfpack responded with timely buckets and defensive stops — a hallmark of disciplined ACC teams. (CBS Sports)

Quick look ahead

NC State will hit the road for its next contest, looking to use this offensive outburst as momentum in conference play. Wake Forest, meanwhile, faces a challenging schedule ahead as it aims to climb back toward .500 in ACC standings and regain consistency on both ends of the floor. (CBS Sports)