NC State rolls past 16th-ranked North Carolina 82-58

Wolfpack take down injury-depleted Tar Heels in rivalry matchup

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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North Carolina State University's men's basketball team defeated the 16th-ranked University of North Carolina Tar Heels 82-58 in a rivalry game on Tuesday night. The Wolfpack were led by strong performances from Quadir Copeland, who scored 20 points, and freshman Matt Able, who added 19 points. NC State shot 53.1% from the field and held the Tar Heels to just 31.7% shooting, taking advantage of UNC playing without two of its top scorers and rebounders due to injuries.

Why it matters

This victory was crucial for NC State's hopes of securing an NCAA Tournament berth, as the Wolfpack had recently suffered a blowout loss and a close home defeat that had put their postseason chances in jeopardy. Meanwhile, the injury-depleted Tar Heels struggled mightily without their star freshman Caleb Wilson and big man Henri Veesaar, raising concerns about their ability to maintain their standing as a top-25 team.

The details

NC State dominated the game from start to finish, building a 16-point halftime lead and never letting UNC get back into the contest. The Wolfpack's defense stifled the Tar Heels, who missed 17 of their first 18 3-point attempts and finished just 5-for-33 from beyond the arc. In addition to Copeland and Able's big scoring nights, Darrion Williams added 13 points for NC State despite a scary first-half fall that required stitches.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.

The players

Quadir Copeland

A NC State player who scored 20 points and added 6 rebounds and 7 assists in the win.

Matt Able

A freshman NC State player who scored 19 points in the victory.

Caleb Wilson

A UNC freshman star who was out with a fractured hand and missed the game.

Henri Veesaar

A UNC big man who was sidelined with a lower-body injury and did not play.

Jarin Stevenson

A UNC player who scored 13 points in the loss.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game highlighted the challenges facing the injury-depleted Tar Heels, who struggled mightily without two of their top players. Meanwhile, the victory was a crucial boost for NC State's NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Wolfpack were able to regroup after some recent setbacks and deliver a dominant performance in the rivalry matchup.