NC State Hits Late 3 to Top Gamecocks in Exhibition

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Paul McNeil Jr. hit a game-winning contested 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to lift NC State over South Carolina, 88-86, on Sunday in The Bad Boy Mowers Series – Greensboro exhibition contest.

The Gamecocks took the lead with just over 10 seconds remaining after Kobe Knox got a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast for an and-1 layup. He made the free throw to put Carolina in front, 86-85, with the shot clock turned off. Knox finished with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists in 25 minutes of action.

The Gamecocks built a 45-38 lead in the first half, going 17-of-31 (54.8%) from the floor. Meechie Johnson had 11 first half points as eight different players scored in a balance offensive attack for Carolina.

The Gamecocks went ahead by 11, 76-65, on a Johnson steal and layup with 8:23 to go in the second half. Highly touted freshman Eli Ellis hit a trio of 3s to help fuel the Carolina run that put them ahead by double digits.

The Wolfpack forced some turnovers and got to the free throw line in a 17-2 run down the stretch that put them ahead by four, 85-81, with just over 1:13 to play.

Ellis led all scorers with 23 points on 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc. He also pulled down five rebounds and had three assists. The Hickory, N.C. native was 7-of-10 (70.0%) from the floor. Johnson finished with 20 points for Carolina on 8-of-16 (50.0%). He led the team with four assists. Elijah Strong also finished in double-figures for the Gamecocks with 11 points off the bench.

KEY STATS

• NC State took advantage of 15 more free throw attempts than the Gamecocks with a plus-seven margin in the made free throw column. The Wolfpack also forced 10 of Carolina’s 15 turnovers in the second half. They finished with 18 points off turnovers in the game.
• Both teams made 31 field goals each shooting the ball efficiently over the 50.0% clip.
• Carolina was 12-of-29 (41.4%) from behind the arc.

NOTABLES

• The Gamecock reserves had a productive day with a 50-24 advantage in bench points led by Ellis (23), Knox (12) and Strong (11).
• The backcourt duo of Ellis (23) and Johnson (20) combined for 43 points on 16-of-27 shooting (59.3%), making eight of the team’s 12 3s.

UP NEXT

South Carolina opens the 2025-26 season at home on Nov. 4 against NC A&T. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. (ET) with Dave Weinstein (pxp) and John Williams (analyst) on the call for the SEC Network+ broadcast. It’ll be the second all-time meeting between the two schools and first since the 2014-15 season.

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