NC State Suffers Blowout Loss at No. 11 Virginia

Wolfpack struggles on both ends in 90-61 defeat against Cavaliers

Feb. 25, 2026 at 3:38am

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North Carolina State suffered a lopsided 90-61 loss to No. 11 Virginia on Tuesday night, struggling on both ends of the floor. The Wolfpack trailed by double digits for most of the game and allowed the Cavaliers to shoot 77% in the second half. The loss was NC State's third in its last four games, putting a damper on its hopes of moving up the ACC standings.

Why it matters

NC State had a chance to build momentum with a second straight ranked win, but instead fell flat against a Virginia team that has given the Wolfpack trouble in recent meetings. The blowout loss raises questions about NC State's ability to compete with the ACC's elite and puts its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy with the regular season winding down.

The details

NC State shot just 18% from the field in the first half and trailed 32-19 at the break. The Wolfpack was unable to mount a serious comeback in the second half as Virginia continued to pour it on, leading by as many as 18 points. Paul McNeil Jr. led NC State with 22 points, but no other Wolfpack player scored more than 14.

  • The game took place on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.
  • NC State and Virginia had previously met earlier this season, with the Cavaliers winning that matchup as well.

The players

Paul McNeil Jr.

A key player for NC State who led the team with 22 points in the loss.

Thijs De Ridder

A standout performer for Virginia, scoring 19 points in the win.

Sam Lewis

The Cavaliers' sharpshooter, adding 16 points including four 3-pointers.

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What they’re saying

“I seen a loss coming tonight for NC State. Virginia is very good team and have had our number recently”

— Brandon Key

“NC State has had two clunkers vs Virginia this year.”

— Tim Donnelly

What’s next

NC State will look to bounce back on Saturday when it visits Notre Dame.

The takeaway

This lopsided loss to Virginia highlights the challenges NC State faces in competing with the ACC's top teams. The Wolfpack will need to regroup quickly to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive as the regular season winds down.