NC State Wolfpack Can't Hang On in Thriller Against Miami Hurricanes

The Wolfpack led late, but Miami rallied to win 77-76 in a close ACC matchup.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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NC State men's basketball couldn't hold on to a late lead, as the Miami Hurricanes came back to win 77-76 in a close ACC matchup. The Wolfpack led for much of the game, but Miami closed strong, going on an 8-0 run in the final minute to secure the victory. Freshman Matt Able had a strong game for NC State, scoring 17 points, while sophomore Paul McNeil added 14 points.

Why it matters

This was an important conference game between two teams jockeying for position in the ACC standings. The loss drops NC State to 18-8 on the season, while Miami improves to 19-7. The Wolfpack had a chance to pick up a key win at home, but couldn't finish the job against the physical Hurricanes.

The details

NC State led for much of the game, thanks in part to strong performances from Able and McNeil. The Wolfpack played tough defense, with Ven-Allen Lubin blocking four shots. However, Miami's size and physicality in the paint proved problematic, as the Hurricanes outrebounded NC State 20-13 in the first half. The game got chippy late, with a scuffle between Darrion Williams and Miami's Tre Donaldson leading to a technical foul. NC State led by as many as seven in the final minute, but Miami rallied with an 8-0 run to steal the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 14, 2026 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The players

Matt Able

A freshman guard for the NC State Wolfpack who scored 17 points in the game, including making three 3-pointers.

Paul McNeil

A sophomore guard for the NC State Wolfpack who scored 14 points, including several key shots down the stretch to try to keep the Wolfpack in the game.

Ven-Allen Lubin

A forward for the NC State Wolfpack who had four blocked shots and made several important plays late to try to preserve the lead for the Wolfpack.

Darrion Williams

A forward for the NC State Wolfpack who got into a scuffle with Miami's Tre Donaldson, leading to a technical foul, but also made a key driving layup to keep the Wolfpack in the game late.

Tre Donaldson

A guard for the Miami Hurricanes who got into a scuffle with NC State's Darrion Williams, leading to a technical foul.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been a little too amped up at the end there, but I'm proud of the fight our guys showed against a tough Miami team. We'll learn from this and come back stronger.”

— Will Wade, NC State Head Coach (NC State Men's Basketball Twitter)

What’s next

NC State will look to bounce back in their next ACC matchup against the Virginia Tech Hokies on February 18th.

The takeaway

This was a heartbreaking loss for the NC State Wolfpack, who had the game in hand late but couldn't close it out against the physical Miami Hurricanes. The Wolfpack showed fight and resilience, but ultimately came up short against a tough conference opponent. NC State will need to regroup and learn from this experience as they continue their push for an NCAA Tournament berth.