No. 11 Virginia dominates NC State in 9th straight win

Cavaliers stay one game behind No. 1 Duke in ACC standings

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The No. 11 Virginia Cavaliers defeated the NC State Wolfpack 90-61 in an Atlantic Coast Conference matchup on Tuesday night in Charlottesville. The Cavaliers extended their winning streak to nine games, staying one game behind No. 1 Duke in the ACC standings. Thijs De Ridder led Virginia with 19 points, while Sam Lewis, Jacari White, Malik Thomas, and Chance Mallory also scored in double figures. NC State shot a season-worst 29.4% from the field and was led by Paul McNeil Jr.'s 22 points.

Why it matters

The win keeps Virginia in the hunt for the ACC regular season title, as they look to challenge Duke for the conference crown. NC State's poor shooting performance and loss drops them to 10-5 in ACC play, making it more difficult for them to secure an NCAA Tournament berth.

The details

Virginia jumped out to an early 15-3 lead and never looked back, leading by as many as 25 points in the second half. The Cavaliers shot 46.2% from 3-point range and had a 32-5 advantage in bench points. NC State struggled mightily, missing 12 of their first 13 shots and shooting just 29.4% overall. A scuffle near midcourt in the second half resulted in NC State's Scottie Ebube being ejected for leaving the bench.

  • The Cavaliers (25-3, 13-2 ACC) won their ninth straight game, their longest streak since the 2018-19 national championship season.
  • Virginia stayed one game behind No. 1 Duke in the ACC heading into Saturday's showdown in Durham, N.C.

The players

Thijs De Ridder

Scored a team-high 19 points for Virginia.

Paul McNeil Jr.

Led NC State with 22 points.

Scottie Ebube

NC State player who was ejected for leaving the bench during a scuffle.

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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)

What’s next

The Cavaliers will face No. 1 Duke on Saturday in Durham, N.C. in a pivotal ACC showdown.

The takeaway

Virginia's dominant win over NC State keeps them in the hunt for the ACC regular season title, setting up a crucial matchup with conference-leading Duke this weekend. Meanwhile, NC State's poor shooting performance and loss makes their path to an NCAA Tournament berth more difficult.