NC State Dominates North Carolina in Rivalry Matchup
Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Lenovo Center
NC State Wolfpack 82, North Carolina Tar Heels 58, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won North Carolina Tar Heels vs NC State Wolfpack?
NC State Wolfpack beat North Carolina Tar Heels 82-58 at Lenovo Center on February 17, 2026.
Who was favored in North Carolina Tar Heels vs NC State Wolfpack?
NC State Wolfpack were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -375 (about 79% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive victory, the NC State Wolfpack defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 82-58 at the Lenovo Center. This matchup was particularly noteworthy as it showcased the fierce rivalry between the two teams, with NC State looking to improve its standing after recent struggles. The Wolfpack entered the game with a home record of 19-8, while the Tar Heels boasted a slightly better away record of 20-6.
NC State's recent form had been a mixed bag, with a record of 7-3 in their last ten games, but they were on a two-game losing streak heading into this contest. The Wolfpack averaged 85.1 points scored per game while allowing 79.2 points. Their last five games reflected a scoring average of 83.0 points, but they had also allowed an average of 85.8 points, indicating defensive vulnerabilities. In contrast, North Carolina had matched NC State's recent record of 7-3 in their last ten games, but they came into this game on a one-game winning streak. The Tar Heels averaged 82.5 points scored and allowed 77.2 points in their recent stretch, with their last five games yielding an average of 78.8 points scored and 72.0 points allowed.
Home and away performances also played a significant role in this fixture. NC State had a home record of 2-2 in their last four games, while North Carolina had a strong home record of 5-0 but struggled with a 2-3 away record. This disparity may have influenced the game, as NC State capitalized on their home advantage.
In terms of previous meetings, NC State had struggled against North Carolina, holding a 0-2 record in their last two encounters. The most recent meeting was on February 20, 2025, where NC State lost 73-97, and earlier that season, they fell short again with a 61-63 defeat on January 11, 2025. This context added pressure on NC State to secure a win in front of their home crowd.
Injury reports did not indicate significant player absences for either team, allowing both squads to field their strongest lineups. The betting market reflected NC State's home advantage, with DraftKings setting the spread at -8.5 in favor of the Wolfpack, indicating confidence in their ability to win by a comfortable margin. The total points line was set at 156.5, suggesting expectations for a high-scoring affair.
The game conditions were favorable, with a packed crowd at the Lenovo Center, creating an electric atmosphere that often influences the performance of the home team. As the game progressed, NC State's offensive execution and defensive tenacity became evident, leading to a commanding lead.
Key moments in the second half included Jonathan Powell's layup that brought the score to 75-53, followed by a series of successful plays from NC State that extended their lead to 79-55. Matt Able capped off the scoring with a 29-foot three-point jumper, solidifying the victory at 82-58.
Overall, NC State's performance in this rivalry matchup not only provided them with a much-needed win but also showcased their potential as they head toward the latter part of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | NCSU -8.5 | 156.5 o -112 / u -108 | North Carolina Tar Heels +295 · NC State Wolfpack -375 |
Leaders
- PointsQuadir Copeland20NC State Wolfpack
- AssistsQuadir Copeland7NC State Wolfpack
- ReboundsPaul McNeil Jr.7NC State Wolfpack
- PointsZayden High13North Carolina Tar Heels
- AssistsKyan Evans3North Carolina Tar Heels
- ReboundsZayden High10North Carolina Tar Heels
Recent form
NC State Wolfpack
Last 10: 7-3Streak L285.1 scored · 79.2 allowed per game2-2 at home
- L76-77vs Miami HurricanesFeb 14
- L77-118at Louisville CardinalsFeb 10
- W82-73vs Virginia Tech HokiesFeb 7
- W84-83at SMU MustangsFeb 4
- W96-78at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsJan 31
- W88-68vs Syracuse OrangeJan 28
- W81-72at Pittsburgh PanthersJan 24
- W80-76at Clemson TigersJan 21
- L74-78vs Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsJan 17
- W113-69at Florida State SeminolesJan 10
North Carolina Tar Heels
Last 10: 7-3Streak W182.5 scored · 77.2 allowed per game2-3 away
- W79-65vs Pittsburgh PanthersFeb 14
- L66-75at Miami HurricanesFeb 11
- W71-68vs Duke Blue DevilsFeb 7
- W87-77vs Syracuse OrangeFeb 3
- W91-75at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsJan 31
- W85-80at Virginia CavaliersJan 24
- W91-69vs Notre Dame Fighting IrishJan 22
- L78-84at California Golden BearsJan 17
- L90-95at Stanford CardinalJan 15
- W87-84vs Wake Forest Demon DeaconsJan 10
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | North Carolina Tar Heels | NC State Wolfpack |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 19-60 | 31-64 |
| Field goal % | 32 | 48 |
| Three-pointers | 5-33 | 9-20 |
| Three-point % | 15 | 45 |
| Free throws | 15-21 | 11-16 |
| Free throw % | 71 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 40 | 38 |
| Offensive rebounds | 17 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 26 |
| Assists | 9 | 13 |
| Steals | 0 | 7 |
| Blocks | 3 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 4 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 3 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 12 | 13 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 40 |
| Fouls | 16 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 2 | 24 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 1 | 95 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half26-42Paul McNeil Jr. makes 11-foot floating jump shot (Quadir Copeland assists)
- 2nd Half28-42Jarin Stevenson makes layup (Zayden High assists)
- 2nd Half28-43Ven-Allen Lubin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half28-44Ven-Allen Lubin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half31-44Derek Dixon makes 24-foot three point jumper (Seth Trimble assists)
- 2nd Half31-46Tre Holloman makes 14-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half33-46Jarin Stevenson makes 3-foot dunk (Derek Dixon assists)
- 2nd Half33-48Darrion Williams makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half33-49Quadir Copeland makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-49Luka Bogavac makes 27-foot turnaround jump shot (Kyan Evans assists)
- 2nd Half36-52Paul McNeil Jr. makes 27-foot three point jumper (Darrion Williams assists)
- 2nd Half36-54Darrion Williams makes 7-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half38-54Luka Bogavac makes driving layup
- 2nd Half40-54Jaydon Young makes layup (Kyan Evans assists)
- 2nd Half40-56Quadir Copeland makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half40-58Quadir Copeland makes layup
- 2nd Half42-58Jonathan Powell makes layup
- 2nd Half42-60Darrion Williams makes layup
- 2nd Half42-62Matt Able makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half45-62Jaydon Young makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kyan Evans assists)
- 2nd Half45-65Matt Able makes 28-foot three point jumper (Quadir Copeland assists)
- 2nd Half46-65Zayden High makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-65Zayden High makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half48-65Zayden High makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-67Musa Sagnia makes layup
- 2nd Half48-68Musa Sagnia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-71Terrance Arceneaux makes 26-foot three point jumper (Tre Holloman assists)
- 2nd Half51-71Luka Bogavac makes 28-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half51-72Matt Able makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-73Matt Able makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half51-74Quadir Copeland makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half51-75Quadir Copeland makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-75Jonathan Powell makes layup
- 2nd Half53-77Paul McNeil Jr. makes 20-foot jumper (Quadir Copeland assists)
- 2nd Half55-77Jarin Stevenson makes layup (Jaydon Young assists)
- 2nd Half55-79Ven-Allen Lubin makes 8-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half56-79Luka Bogavac makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-79Jonathan Powell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-79Jonathan Powell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-82Matt Able makes 29-foot three point jumper (Alyn Breed assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours NC State Wolfpack, below favours North Carolina Tar Heels.
Venue
- Lenovo CenterRaleigh, NC
- Attendance19367
- OfficialsPat Driscoll, Brian O'Connell, Michael Greenstein
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- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond