RALEIGH, N.C. — In a competitive matchup during the SEC/ACC Challenge, Texas emerged victorious over North Carolina State with a final score of 63-59 on Wednesday night, thanks in large part to freshman Tre Johnson. Johnson showcased his shooting prowess by scoring 18 points, including an impressive 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and finishing the game with a 7-of-15 shooting effort overall.
Alongside Johnson, Jordan Pope contributed 13 points, while Tramon Mark added 10. Arthur Kaluma was a force on the boards, securing 15 rebounds—just one shy of his career high—for the Longhorns, who improved their record to 7-1.
On the opposing side, the Wolfpack saw strong performances from their bench, particularly from Dontrez Styles, who scored 17 points, and Marcus Hill, who tallied 16. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield also made his mark with 10 points, helping NC State to a 5-3 record.
The game came down to the wire. With the score tied at 57, Johnson hit a crucial 3-pointer from the right side with just 1:43 remaining, enabling Texas to take control. Despite a spirited effort from NC State, which saw Styles make a layup to narrow the gap to just one point with 1:20 left, Texas maintained their lead. Chendall Weaver stepped up for the Longhorns, making one of two free throws, extending the lead to 61-59.
In the chaotic final moments, Jayden Taylor of the Wolfpack missed a jumper, but NC State retained possession after the ball went off a Texas player. However, in the subsequent inbounds pass, Michael O’Connell misfired and sent the ball out of bounds, granting Texas possession once again.
After O’Connell committed a foul against Pope, he was unable to capitalize on a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity, leaving the door open for NC State. However, after a timeout with only four seconds on the clock, Taylor attempted a layup but was thwarted by Kadin Shedrick’s impressive two-handed block. Weaver quickly retrieved the ball and raced down the court for a dunk, sealing the victory for Texas.
With this win, Texas has now achieved a 3-2 all-time record against North Carolina State.