Photos: N.C. State falls to Virginia in ACC Tournament quarterfinals
By Kaitlin McKeown and
Ethan Hymankmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin (22) pulls the rebound from Virginia's Chance Mallory (2) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026.
Ethan Hyman
ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State was defeated 81-74 by No. 2 seeded Virginia in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
The Cavaliers won the first two regular-season meetings between the teams and made it a triefecta with the win in Charlotte.
Virginia advances to face either Miami or Louisivlle in the semifinals.
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin slams in two during the first half of the Wolfpack’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game against Virginia on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Matt Able drives between Virginia's Devin Tillis and Jacari White during the first half of the Wolfpack’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Quadir Copeland (11) and N.C. State's Matt Able (3) walk back to the bench after a timeout late in the second half of Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Wolfpack fans cheer on the team in the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Quadir Copeland (11) falls to the ground after being fouled in the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Will Wade protests a call by an official during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Quadir Copeland blocks a shot by Virginia's Chance Mallory during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Darrion Williams (1) dives on a loose ball in the second half of Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Jacari White reacts after knocking down a three-point basket during the second half of the Cavaliers’ 81-74 win over N.C. State in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Darrion Williams (1) looks for room as Virginia's Jacari White (6) defends during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin (22) and the team walk off the court after Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin and Paul McNeil Jr. pressure Virginia's Malik Thomas during the first half of the Wolfpack’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game onThursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Darrion Williams (1) and Quadir Copeland (11) walk back to the bench after VirginiaÕs 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC MenÕs Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Owen Odom (22) fouls N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin (22) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Tre Holloman (5) and Ven-Allen Lubin (22) defend Virginia's Devin Tillis (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Ugonna Onyenso (33) pulls the ball in after N.C. State's Quadir Copeland (11) knocked it away in the second half of Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Thijs de Ridder drives to the basket past N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Will Wade watches the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin (22) shoots while defended by Virginia's Jacari White (6) and Johann Grünloh (17) during Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Matt Able (3) shoots as Virginia's Jacari White (6) defends during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Ugonna Onyenso blocks a shot by N.C. State's Paul McNeil Jr. during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Quadir Copeland drives against Virginia's Malik Thomas during the first half of the Wolfpack’s ACC Tournament quarterfinal game onThursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Will Wade reacts during a timeout in the first half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin (22) goes after a loose ball in the second half of Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Dallin Hall shoots over N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin reacts after being charged with a foul during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Malik Thomas drives to the basket past N.C. State's Matt Able and N.C. State's Tre Holloman during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Will Wade is not happy with the play of his team during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
Virginia's Malik Thomas and N.C. State's Darrion Williams tumble out of bounds during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
N.C. State's Ven-Allen Lubin is fouled by Virginia's Johann Grünloh during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 81-74 loss in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
The Wolfpack assistant coaches can’t believe the call during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Virginia in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Will Wade is not happy with the call in the second half of Virginia’s 81-74 victory over N.C. State in the quarterfinals of the 2026 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, March 12, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published March 12, 2026 at 1:54 PM.
