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Freshman Paul McNeil racked up 24 points and Dontrez Styles pumped in 22 points as North Carolina State pulled off an 85-73 victory against Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Ben Middlebrooks added 10 points, Michael O’Connell delivered 13 assists and Styles pulled down 10 rebounds as NC State (11-16, 4-12 ACC) won for the second time in its last three games.

It was a potentially devastating setback for Wake Forest (19-8, 11-5), which has been considered an NCAA Tournament bubble team. The Demon Deacons have lost two of their last three games.

Cameron Hildreth had 16 points, Tre’Von Spillers notched 15, Hunter Sallis supplied 13 points and nine rebounds, and Efton Reid III, despite two fouls in the game’s first 2 1/2 minutes, had 12 points. Hildreth was back after a one-game absence with a foot injury.

NC State, which picked up assists on 23 of 29 baskets, finished with 11 offensive rebounds as part of its 36-29 edge on the boards. That helped avenge a road loss from early January.

Wake Forest surged into a 61-56 lead before O’Connell and Jayden Taylor drained 3-poiners on consecutive possessions for NC State.

McNeil’s trey, followed by two jumpers from Styles, complete a 13-0 run as the Wolfpack stretched the advantage to 69-61 with less than five minutes remaining.

Styles contributed 15 points, aided by three 3-pointers, to NC State’s 40-34 halftime lead. The Wolfpack went 6-for-17 on 3-pointers in the half, while Wake Forest was a mere 1-for-3.

Sallis, Wake Forest’s leading scorer, went 0-for-2 from the field in the opening half, with his three points on free throws.

NC State marched out to an 11-0 lead barely more than three minutes into the game. Then Wake Forest scored the next 10 points, with four from Spillers.

–Field Level Media