Freshman McNeil scores 24 points in first start, helps lead N.C. State to 85-73 win over Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. NC State Wolfpack: Game Highlights
RALEIGH, N.C. — — Paul McNeil, making his first collegiate start, scored 24 points, Dontrez Styles added 22 and N.C. State beat Wake Forest 85-73 on Saturday.
McNeil, a freshman from Rockingham, N.C., scored 17 points in the second half including a 3-pointer for a 10-point lead heading into the final minute. His dunk finished the scoring and he was mobbed by teammates as they left the floor.
McNeil and Styles each hit four 3-pointers and Styles added 10 rebounds for his second double-double this season. Ben Middlebrooks scored 10 points. The Wolfpack (11-16, 4-12 ACC) was 13 of 32 from the arc and won for only the second time in 12 games.
Cameron Hildreth scored 16 points, Tre’Von Spillers 15, Hunter Sallis 13 and Efton Reid III 12 for the Demon Deacons (19-8, 11-5).
Wake Forest took its only second-half lead midway through on a Spillers’ 3-pointer. But a few minutes later N.C. State went on an 18-2 run capped by a Styles’ 3 before the final media timeout to go up 11 while Wake Forest went over eight minutes without a field goal.
McNeil had a tip-in and a 3-pointer to open the game as the Wolfpack scored the first 11 points. The Demon Deacons immediately responded with 10 straight points. N.C. State led 40-34 at halftime.
Wake Forest won in this season’s previous meeting, 77-59 on Jan. 4.
Wake Forest is host to Virginia and N.C. State plays at Syracuse in Wednesday games.
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Wake Forest Demon Deacons
NC State Wolfpack
Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. NC State Wolfpack: Game Highlights
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Game Information
2024-25 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
Men’s College Basketball News
| 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAKE | 34 | 39 | 73 |
| NCSU | 40 | 45 | 85 |
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 15-1 | – | 23-3 |
| Clemson | 14-2 | 1 | 22-5 |
| Louisville | 14-2 | 1 | 21-6 |
| SMU | 11-5 | 4 | 20-7 |
| Wake Forest | 11-5 | 4 | 19-8 |
| North Carolina | 10-6 | 5 | 17-11 |
| Stanford | 8-7 | 6.5 | 16-10 |
| Florida State | 7-9 | 8 | 16-11 |
| Pittsburgh | 7-9 | 8 | 16-11 |
| Georgia Tech | 7-9 | 8 | 13-14 |
| Virginia Tech | 6-9 | 8.5 | 11-15 |
| Virginia | 6-10 | 9 | 13-14 |
| Notre Dame | 6-10 | 9 | 12-15 |
| California | 5-10 | 9.5 | 12-14 |
| Syracuse | 5-11 | 10 | 11-16 |
| Boston College | 4-12 | 11 | 12-15 |
| NC State | 4-12 | 11 | 11-16 |
| Miami | 2-13 | 12.5 | 6-20 |
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Postgame Takeaways: Paul McNeil, NC State bursts Wake’s bubble in critical home win
RALEIGH, N.C. — NC State pulled off the upset against Wake Forest, 85-73, on Saturday in what will forever be known as the Paul McNeil Game™ in Raleigh. McNeil not only got his first career start, but dropped a career-high 22 points, including a dagger 3-pointer and two late free throws to put the game away in the final minute of play.
Here are the immediate takeaways from NC State basketball’s home matchup against Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon in the Wolfpack’s penultimate home game inside Lenovo Center for the 2024-25 season.
NC State Closes Strong Against Wake
All season long, NC State has been in games late, but hasn’t shown the ability to finish. After the life was nearly drawn completely out of the Lenovo Center during a scoreless drought midway through the second half, the Pack finally showed the resilience it needed late with an 18-2 run over a five-plus minute span to build a double-digit lead at 74-63 at the final media timeout with 2:48 left to play.
Wake was able to tighten things up near the end with turnovers forced off full-court pressure and several stoppages by the officials on close plays, but State was ultimately able to hold on. It was a win that was not only necessary for the Pack to stay alive for the ACC Tournament, but also burst the bubble of Wake Forest, which kills two birds with one stone when it comes to the in-state rivalry.
Paul McNeil Jr. Makes Most of First Start
In a surprise move, Kevin Keatts rolled out a new starting lineup against Wake Forest with Paul McNeil Jr. replacing Marcus Hill at the two guard. Not only did McNeil get his first career start, he was the tone setter for the Wolfpack early with a ton of production early. The true freshman got a putback bucket on the opening possession, drained a 3-pointer on the next then cleaned up a missed shot and dished it out to Michael O’Connell for an open triple.
Just three possessions in, McNeil already had five points on 2-of-2 shooting, two rebounds and an assist. That helped the Pack build an 11-0 lead through the first 3:07 of play and maintain the lead nearly the entire first half.
McNeil didn’t slow down late either, opening the second half on the court and getting going early with seven more points in the first 4:20 of play. When he checked out at the 14:12 mark, Wake was able to build up a three-point lead over the next three minutes before he returned to the court. The Pack retook the lead at 62-61 with 7:18 left to play after McNeil saved a ball going out of bounds and dished it to O’Connell for an open three. He then hit a 3-pointer out of the timeout to make it a four-point lead with 7:09 to play.
In total, McNeil finished with 24 points, four rebounds and three assists in the win. It’s gonna be hard to go back to anyone else starting after that type of performance.
Ball Movement is Back for the Pack
This isn’t the third takeaway because it was any less important, but the ball movement for NC State on Saturday was the best its been all season. The Wolfpack finished with an insane 22 assists on 28 made shots with Michael O’Connell notching 12 of those dimes, the most he’s had in an NC State uniform and tying a career-high mark he set in Feb. 26, 2023 with Stanford.
In total, four players finished multiple assists, including McNeil, Jayden Taylor and Middlebrooks. Going into a matchup against Syracuse later this week in an another absolute must-win scenario on the road, that will be critical as the Pack looks to pile up wins in order to attempt to make the ACC Tournament.
RALEIGH, N.C. — After a back-and-forth battle on Saturday afternoon, NC State closed strong for a 85-73 win over Wake Forest to split the season series. The Wolfpack (11-16, 4-12 ACC) got a career-high 24 points from Paul McNeil in his first career start while Michael O’Connell added a career-high 13 assists and Dontrez Styles finished with 22 points in the critical in-state victory.
Here are the full stats from NC State basketball’s home matchup against Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon in the Wolfpack’s penultimate home game inside Lenovo Center for the 2024-25 season.
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In less than a month, the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament will tip off, marking the start of the journey to crown another national champion. Two-time reigning title holder UConn may need a miracle to complete a three-peat given its up-and-down 2024-25 season, leaving the door wide open for other programs to cut down the nets at the end of the Final Four inside the Alamodome in San Antonio this April. Will a traditional blue-blood emerge and capture another championship, or will a new school join the list of 37 programs with at least one NCAA Tournament crown?
UConn joined an exclusive group of college basketball powers with its sixth national title in program history last season. Just 15 schools have secured multiple NCAA titles all-time.
So, where do the most successful college basketball programs to ever win a national title rank among the all-time elite?
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Below is a closer look at the college basketball teams with the most NCAA Tournament titles all-time, ranked in order from most to least:
Championship years: 1995, 1975, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1965, 1964
It will likely be a long time before any team even comes close to surpassing UCLA for the most college basketball national championships. Under the guidance of the late John Wooden, the Bruins enjoyed more than a decade of dominance, securing 10 combined NCAA titles in the 1960s and 1970s. Jim Harrick later added another championship in 1995. The most impressive feat by UCLA is its record streak of seven consecutive titles from 1967-1973 — the only team in history to win more than two straight national championships.
Championship years: 2012, 1998, 1996, 1978, 1958, 1951, 1949, 1948
Five different head coaches have guided Kentucky to national championships in basketball. Adolph Rupp, the architect of the blue-blood program, laid its foundation in the 1930s and secured his first of four NCAA titles in 1948. Six years after his retirement, one of his assistants, Joe B. Hall, led the Wildcats to their fifth NCAA Tournament title in 1978. Rick Pitino and Tubby Smith each claimed a national championship during a three-year span in the 1990s, while John Calipari ended a 14-year championship drought with the eighth title in Kentucky history at the end of the 2011-12 season.
Championship years: 2017, 2009, 2005, 1993, 1982, 1957
As legendary of a head coach as Dean Smith was at North Carolina, it is Roy Williams that sits atop the list of names with the most NCAA Tournament titles in Tar Heels history. He won two during his first six years at the helm in Chapel Hill and eventually a third in 2017 — rebounding from the heartbreaking buzzer-beater loss to Villanova in the national final the year prior. UNC came close to claiming a seventh NCAA championship in Hubert Davis’ first season, but he has come under scrutiny this year with an underwhelming campaign.
Championship years: 2024, 2023, 2014, 2011, 2004, 1999
UConn has solidified its status as a modern blue-blood in college basketball with its impressive run of national championships over the past three decades. The reigning back-to-back champions posted two of the most dominant NCAA Tournament runs since the bracket expanded in 1985. Dan Hurley needs just one more to tie the legendary coach Jim Calhoun for most national titles in UConn history. Kevin Ollie also led the Huskies to an NCAA Tournament crown in 2014 as a No. 7 seed.
Championship years: 2015, 2010, 2001, 1992, 1991
Duke is a serious national championship contender this season with a chance to tie its Tobacco Road rival on the list of college basketball programs with the most NCAA Tournament titles. Mike Krzyzewski had a legendary run in charge of the Blue Devils for more than 40 years, earning five national crowns — most recently in 2015. No head coach in college basketball history has more Final Four appearances than Coach K with 13.
Championship years: 1987, 1981, 1976, 1953, 1940
Indiana is in the process of finding its next head coach for the third time in a decade. It has been more than 20 years since the golden era of Hoosiers basketball, when the late Bob Knight elevated the program to blue-blood status. Three national championships during a 12-year span of his time spent in Bloomington cemented his legacy. But prior to that, Branch McCracken led Indiana to two NCAA Tournament titles.
Championship years: 2022, 2008, 1988, 1952
The sudden decline for Kansas has been unexpected, just three years removed from its fourth national championship in program history. Longtime coach Bill Self is struggling to find answers with major changes looming. Still, there is no denying the lasting impact he has had on the Jayhawks with two NCAA Tournament titles. Phog Allen was the first Kansas coach to cut down the nets in 1952, followed by Larry Brown, who did it in 1988.
Championship years: 2013 (* — vacated), 1986, 1980
Rick Pitino led Louisville to a national championship in 2013, but the Cardinals’ participation in the NCAA Tournament that year was later vacated by the Committee on Infractions. Denny Crum, the all-time winningest Louisville coach, guided the program to national championships in 1980 and 1986 during his 30-year tenure. With new coach Pat Kelsey now in charge, the Cardinals are poised to break a six-year drought without an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Championship years: 2018, 2016, 1985
Who could forget the Cinderella run to a national championship by Villanova in the 1985 NCAA Tournament? The No. 8 seed Wildcats stunned No. 1 seed and reigning national championship Georgetown in the final. More than 30 years later, coach Jay Wright finally broke through to lead Villanova to two national championships in a three-year span. The Wildcats have not been back to the NCAA Tournament since he retired at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
T10. Cincinnati Bearcats — 2 (1962, 1961)
T10. Florida Gators — 2 (2007, 2006)
T10. Michigan State Spartans — 2 (2000, 1979)
T10. NC State Wolfpack — 2 (1983, 1974)
T10. Oklahoma State Cowboys — 2 (1946, 1945)
T10. San Francisco Dons — 2 (1956, 1955)
T16. Arizona Wildcats — 1 (1997)
T16. Arkansas Razorbacks — 1 (1994)
T16. Baylor Bears — 1 (2021)
T16. California Golden Bears — 1 (1959)
T16. CCNY Beavers — 1 (1950)
T16. Georgetown Hoyas — 1 (1984)
T16. Holy Cross Crusaders — 1 (1947)
T16. La Salle Explorers — 1 (1954)
T16. Loyola Ramblers — 1 (1963)
T16. Marquette Eagles — 1 (1977)
T16. Maryland Terrapins — 1 (2002)
T16. Michigan Wolverines — 1 (1989)
T16. Ohio State Buckeyes — 1 (1960)
T16. Oregon Ducks — 1 (1939)
T16. Stanford Cardinal — 1 (1942)
T16. Syracuse Orange — 1 (2003)
T16. UNLV Rebels — 1 (1990)
T16. Utah Utes — 1 (1944)
T16. UTEP Miners— 1 (1966)
T16. Virginia Cavaliers — 1 (2019)
T16. Wisconsin Badgers — 1 (1941)
T16. Wyoming Cowboys — 1 (1943)
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