NC State survived a furious SMU comeback. A last-second defensive stand secured the thrilling one-point victory, capping a wild finish.
A wild finish at Moody Coliseum left SMU one possession shy of a signature ACC win, as the NC State Wolfpack survived a furious final sequence to edge the SMU Mustangs 84-83 on Tuesday night.
The difference was composure and one final defensive stand.
With NC State clinging to a one-point lead and the clock winding down, Quadir Copeland came up empty at the free-throw line, missing two attempts with 15 seconds left. SMU had the ball, the crowd buzzing, and one last chance.
Boopie Miller took it himself, but Tre Holloman shadowed him step for step, denying driving lanes before swatting away Miller’s up-and-under try at the horn to seal it.
Earlier, NC State’s offense had been powered by Darrion Williams, who poured in 25 points to anchor the attack.
Copeland was the engine, though, posting a rare double-double with 10 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists without committing a single turnover.
Matt Able delivered a spark off the bench with 13 points, while Holloman and Ven-Allen Lubin chipped in 11 apiece. The win kept the Wolfpack perfect on the road in ACC play at 6-0 and lifted them to 17-6 overall (8-2 ACC).
SMU countered with a balanced night of its own. Jaron Pierre Jr. led the Mustangs with 23 points, mixing shot-making with athletic finishes. Miller added 14, and both B.J. Edwards and Corey Washington finished with 11 as SMU fought to protect home court at every turn.
SMU seized control late in the first half with a decisive 10-0 burst sparked by Edwards from deep, a Pierre step-back, and a thunderous dunk to build its first double-digit cushion.
NC State steadied itself before the break, trimming the margin to three and setting the stage for a tense second half.
Midway through the final period, the Wolfpack flipped the script. An 11-2 run erased an eight-point deficit, and Able’s 3-pointer pushed NC State in front for the first time since the opening minutes. When Terrance Arceneaux completed a 3-point play with 6:50 remaining, the Wolfpack finally created breathing room at 75-64.
SMU refused to fold, closing the gap possession by possession and turning the final minute into chaos. The Mustangs had the look they wanted at the end ... just not the result.
SMU will look to regroup quickly, hitting the road Saturday for a challenging matchup at Pittsburgh, while NC State carries momentum ... and an unblemished ACC road mark—back home.