NC State Stuns No 18 Clemson In Overtime Thriller

It was a night of high drama and shifting momentum at Littlejohn Coliseum, as North Carolina State delivered a signature victory under the leadership of first-year head coach Will Wade. On January 20, 2026, the Wolfpack stunned the 18th-ranked Clemson Tigers, snapping their hosts’ nine-game winning streak with an 80-76 overtime triumph that will be remembered for its grit, timely shooting, and a dash of poetic irony.

For Wade, the win was more than just another notch in the win column. The Clemson graduate and former Tigers assistant returned to his alma mater, only to hand the Tigers their first conference defeat of the season. As the final buzzer sounded, it was clear: Wade’s magic touch against Clemson—he also coached McNeese State to a first-round NCAA Tournament upset over the Tigers last March—remained intact. During pregame introductions, Clemson fans greeted Wade with a chorus of light boos, but by the end of the night, it was the Wolfpack faithful celebrating a breakthrough moment in the Will Wade era.

Ven-Allen Lubin, the ACC’s field goal percentage leader, was the man of the moment for NC State. He poured in 22 points on a sizzling 9-of-12 from the field and was perfect at the line, sinking all four free throws. Lubin’s dominance in the paint and composure at the stripe set the tone for the Wolfpack, who as a team finished an impressive 22-of-25 from the foul line, including a combined 20-for-22 in the second half and overtime. “We just kept our composure and stuck to the plan,” Lubin said, according to NC State Athletics. “Coach Wade told us to trust each other and keep attacking.”

But it was Darrion Williams who delivered the dagger. With the score knotted in overtime and the crowd on edge, Williams found himself open in the corner. He calmly drained a three-pointer with 2:40 left, giving NC State a lead they would never relinquish. Williams finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists, but it was his clutch shot that will live longest in the memory of Wolfpack fans. “I just knew I had to be ready,” Williams told reporters after the game. “Quadir (Copeland) found me, and I let it fly.”

Copeland’s fingerprints were all over this contest, too. The junior guard contributed 16 points, a game-high six assists, and two steals, keeping the Tigers’ defense honest and the Wolfpack offense humming. Paul McNeil, Jr. rounded out the double-digit scorers for NC State with 10 points, providing crucial support off the bench.

The night didn’t start brightly for the Wolfpack, as they trailed 18-14 early in the first half. But then came a surge—a 19-5 run that flipped the script and put NC State in the driver’s seat. The Wolfpack’s defense clamped down, holding Clemson to just two made field goals over a 10-minute span. By the time the dust settled, NC State led 33-23 with just under four minutes left in the half. The Tigers, however, showed their resilience, closing out the period with a 5-0 spurt to trail just 38-33 at the break.

Throughout the second half, NC State managed to keep Clemson at bay, never allowing the lead to balloon back to double digits but always finding an answer when the Tigers threatened. With 10 minutes to play, the Wolfpack held a 58-51 advantage, but Clemson mounted a furious rally, closing regulation on an 18-11 run. RJ Godfrey, who led the Tigers with 16 points, tied the game at 67 with three minutes to go, and the tension in Littlejohn Coliseum ratcheted up another notch.

Both teams had chances to win in regulation. Clemson’s Dillon Hunter missed a wide-open three-pointer with 33 seconds left, while Williams came up short on a midrange jumper for NC State. As the clock expired, Hunter’s desperation heave bounced harmlessly off the backboard, sending the contest into overtime.

Overtime belonged to the Wolfpack. Clemson struck first, but Copeland responded immediately to tie it at 71. After a Clemson free throw, Copeland found Williams in the corner for the pivotal three-pointer. The Tigers couldn’t respond, and Lubin’s authoritative dunk—off a feed from Williams—pushed the lead to 76-72 with just over a minute remaining. Clemson’s struggles at the free-throw line in overtime proved costly, as they missed three crucial attempts. Lubin and Matt Able iced the contest at the line, and despite a last-gasp putback by the Tigers at the buzzer, the outcome was sealed.

NC State’s ability to force turnovers was another major factor. The Tigers entered the game leading the ACC in fewest turnovers per contest, but the Wolfpack’s pressure forced 13 miscues, resulting in a 19-6 advantage in points off turnovers. “We wanted to disrupt their rhythm and make them uncomfortable,” Wade explained. “Our guys executed the game plan perfectly.”

The victory was historic for NC State. Not only did it mark the Wolfpack’s first road win over a ranked opponent since February 24, 2021 (when they toppled No. 21 Virginia in Charlottesville), but it also extended their perfect start to ACC road play to 3-0. For a program eager to make noise in the conference and secure a postseason berth, the significance of this result can’t be overstated.

Clemson, meanwhile, saw its conference record drop to 6-1 (16-4 overall). Godfrey’s 16 points led the way, with Ace Buckner (12) and Carter Welling (14) also reaching double figures. The Tigers’ struggles at the stripe and inability to protect the ball ultimately doomed their comeback hopes. Head coach Brad Brownell, who received a contract extension through 2031 last season, will look to regroup his squad as they hit the road to face Georgia Tech on January 24.

The scene in Clemson was electric, with a capacity crowd of over 10,000 and even Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Chad Morris in attendance. But the night belonged to the Wolfpack. As NC State looks ahead to a Saturday showdown at Pittsburgh—tipoff set for noon on ESPN2—the confidence and momentum from this signature win could prove invaluable down the stretch.

For Will Wade and his team, this was more than just a win. It was a statement—on the road, against a ranked rival, and with their backs against the wall in overtime. If the Wolfpack can channel this energy in the weeks to come, the ACC may have a new contender to watch.