Copeland Drops 20+, Pack Roll On

Starting off the second round of the 2026 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men's Basketball Tournament were the 15th-seeded Pittsburgh Panthers (13-19 overall, 5-13 ACC + ACC Tournament Win) and the 7th-seeded N.C. State Wolfpack (19-12 overall, 10-8 ACC).

Pittsburgh got to Day 2 of the ACC Tournament after taking down the 10th-seeded Stanford Cardinal by a score of 64-63 on a layup by graduate guard Damarco Minor that came after his offensive rebound off of his own miss.

Senior forward Ven-Allen Lubin, who transferred in-conference and in-state from the North Carolina Tar Heels to the N.C. State Wolfpack, got the Wolfpack on the board first, on a layup jut 24 seconds into the game.

But after a three from senior guard/forward Barry Dunning, Jr., at the 18:34 mark, the Panthers did not trail.

N.C. State would shrink their deficit to a single point on more than one occasion. However, Pittsburgh continue to have an answer.

Panthers' freshman forward Roman Siulepa would foul sophomore guard Paul McNeil, Jr., who was attempting a three-point shot, giving McNeil three free throws. McNeil would cash in on them all, bringing the Wolfpack within two possessions, down 34-28, with 7:28 remaining in the first half.

From the 8:49 mark to inside 5:30, N.C. State's points came only from the charity stripe, scoring 11 points on freebies in this timespan.

The field-goal drought did end, however, on a three by freshman guard Matt Able at the 5:21 mark that gave the Wolfpack their first lead. 35-34, since being ahead 2-0 with 19:36 left in the opening half, a span of over 14 minutes without the lead; N.C. State's last field goal had come on a jumper by senior guard Tre Holloman at the 10:09 mark that had brought the score to 24-21 Pittsburgh.

McNeil broke a 40-40 tie with a three from the right corner at the 3:45 mark to give the Wolfpack a 43-40 lead.

Inside two minutes before the break, Panthers' senior forward Cameron Corhen's layup resulted in another tie, this at 46-apiece.

Lubin's dunk, assisted by McNeil, would break this tie, giving N.C. State a 48-46 lead.

Siulepa would tie the game right after, at 48-all, from the charity stripe.

Senior forward Darrion Williams would separate the Wolfpack with a three inside 20 seconds remaining.

Corhen would reply with a jumper inside two seconds left in the first half, and we headed into the half with N.C. State holding a one-point lead, 51-50.

What once was Pittsburgh coming out striking early ended with N.C. State heating up in the latter portion of the first 20 minutes of play to start the first game of the second round in Charlotte.

By the media timeout at the 17:31 mark of the second half, the Wolfpack had stretched out to a double-digit lead, ahead 61-51. The bucket that got N.C. State to 61 points came from a steal by senior guard Quadir Copeland off of a pass attempt by Pittsburgh freshman guard Omari Witherspoon that Copeland finished at the rim when he slammed the ball home.

Copeland would reach 20 points on a jumper at the 13:52 mark that gave the Wolfpack a 13-point advantage, 71-58.

A three-pointer by sophomore guard Nojus Indrusaitis on a second-chance opportunity for the Panthers shurnk their deficit to two possessions, down 78-72 at the 10:13 mark.

Pittsburgh would get within striking distance again when Corhen got to the basket to make it 88-83 N.C. State with 3:35 remaining.

Copeland would respond on the very next Wolfpack possession with a tough make at the rim that expanded the Wolfpack lead to 90-83 with just over three minutes left in this first game of Day 2.

Corhen would foul Lubin on the next N.C. State possession and officials would review the foul, ultimately deeming it a Flagrant-1. Lubin would make both of his free throws and the Wolfpack would make the most of the extra possession that came from the Flagrant-1, with McNeil getting to the rim to raise the Wolfpack back over the double-digit mark, 94-83.

This contest would conclude with the Wolfpack holding onto a double-digit advantage, defeating the Panthers 98-88.

N.C. State will move onto the Quarterfinal Round of the 2026 ACC Tournament to face the 2nd-seeded Virginia Cavaliers in the first game of Day 3 here in Charlotte, which tips off at Noon ET on ESPN2 on Thursday, March 12.

Corhen would lead the Panthers and all players on both teams with 27 points, followed by Copeland who ended atop the Wolfpack with 24.