Wolfpack Fall Short in Heartbreaker: NC State Drops Close Contest to UNC 59-61 at Reynolds Coliseum
Raleigh, NC – February 2, 2026 – In a fiercely contested Tobacco Road rivalry game, the NC State Wolfpack (15-7, 8-3 ACC) battled valiantly but ultimately fell 59-61 to the visiting North Carolina Tar Heels (18-5, 7-3 ACC), ending their two-game winning streak despite a strong home-court performance at Reynolds Coliseum.
The Wolfpack started hot, building a 20-14 lead after the first quarter and extending it to 34-30 at halftime, thanks to efficient shooting (43% FG in the first half) and dominance inside. However, a sluggish third quarter (8 points on 18% shooting) allowed UNC to surge ahead 48-42. NC State fought back with a 17-13 fourth-quarter edge, including a late rally, but couldn’t overcome key misses and defensive lapses in the closing moments.
Khamil Pierre led the charge for NC State with a monster double-double of 14 points and 15 rebounds, showcasing her rebounding prowess that helped the Pack outrebound UNC 41-35 overall. Tilda Trygger added 11 points and 7 boards, while Qadence Samuels contributed 10 points and 8 rebounds. Zoe Brooks chipped in 8 points, 4 assists, and 3 steals, highlighting the team’s defensive effort that forced 10 UNC turnovers and generated 9 points off them. The Wolfpack excelled in the paint (36 points) and on second chances (6 points), but struggled from beyond the arc (23.8% 3PT) and rarely got to the free-throw line (2-2 FT).
For UNC, Lanie Grant scored 18 points, Indya Nivar had 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists, and Nyla Harris added 10 points and 9 rebounds. The Tar Heels shot 42.6% from the field and capitalized on fast breaks (15 points), edging out points off turnovers 10-9.
Despite leading by as much as 9 in the second quarter and mounting multiple runs, including a 7-0 spurt, NC State’s cold third quarter proved costly. This tough loss drops them in the ACC standings, but with positives like their rebounding edge and interior play, the Wolfpack will look to bounce back Thursday when Florida State strolls into Reynolds in a 8:00 pm match-up. Go Pack!
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