NC State Pulls Off Thrilling Road Win Over SMU

Wolfpack coach Will Wade praises team effort in Quad 1 victory

Feb. 4, 2026 at 3:31am

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The NC State men's basketball team earned a hard-fought 84-83 road win over SMU on Tuesday night. Head coach Will Wade praised the team's overall effort, including standout performances from Quadir Copeland, Darrion Williams, and others. The victory marked the Wolfpack's third Quad 1 win of the season and kept them undefeated on the road in ACC play.

Why it matters

This win is a significant boost for NC State as they look to solidify their standing as one of the top teams in the ACC. The Wolfpack have now beaten two of the conference's top teams on the road, silencing some of the doubters who had questioned their abilities earlier in the season.

The details

NC State overcame a late scare, with Tre Holloman making a key defensive play in the final seconds to preserve the victory. The Wolfpack shot 44% from three-point range and got major contributions from several players, including Copeland's historic 16-assist, 0-turnover performance and Williams' third straight 20-point game.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

Will Wade

The head coach of the NC State men's basketball team.

Quadir Copeland

A NC State player who had a historic night with 16 assists and 0 turnovers.

Darrion Williams

A NC State player who scored 20 points for the third straight game.

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What they’re saying

“Tre [Holloman] was just tremendous. Boopie [Miller] was going to take it -- in all the scouting, he takes all their last-second shots. We knew he wasn't going to pass it. We put our defensive team in. We had Musa [Sagnia] in. We had Ven[-Allen Lubin] in. And Tre just made a tremendous play. He stayed down on all the shot fakes, stayed down on everything.”

— Will Wade, Head Coach

“Darrion [Williams] was phenomenal. And I don't know if I've ever seen 16 assists, no turnovers. I mean, Q, I don't know what to say. He's been so good, but 16 assists, no turnovers, he was incredible.”

— Will Wade, Head Coach

What’s next

The Wolfpack will return home to face a tough Virginia Tech team on Saturday.

The takeaway

This hard-fought road win over a quality opponent demonstrates the Wolfpack's ability to win tough games away from home, solidifying their status as one of the top teams in the ACC this season.