(Photo credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images)

Darrion Williams racked up 23 points and Quadir Copeland scored 19 points against one of his former teams as North Carolina State defeated Syracuse 88-68 for its third consecutive victory on Tuesday night at Raleigh, N.C.

Ven-Allen Lubin tacked on 18 points courtesy of 8-for-8 shooting from the field and a pair of free throws for the Wolfpack (15-6, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). Musa Sagnia added 10 points off the bench. Copeland supplied nine assists.

Donnie Freeman scored 16 of his 24 points in the first half and finished shooting 9-for-18 from the field for Syracuse (12-9, 3-5), which lost its fourth game in a row. The Orange, which also received 17 points from J.J. Starling, ended up at 38.8% (26 of 67) from the floor.

NC State held a 15-9 scoring advantage in made free throws and a 45-33 rebounding edge. Freeman had a game-high 10 boards.

Williams, who tallied his highest point total in a game since mid-November, connected on five of the Wolfpack's seven 3-point baskets. NC finished at 50.8% (33 of 65) from the field, including 26-for-41 on two-point attempts.

Syracuse hung around, staying as close as 55-51 with less than 12 minutes remaining. Copeland, who began his college career by playing two seasons for the Orange (2022-24), had the next five points, beginning by converting on a three-point play.

The Wolfpack stayed on the attack and Syracuse failed to make necessary stops on defense. Sagnia's basket off an offensive rebound pushed the margin to 68-57 with 7:32 to play.

Beginning with Copeland's drive for a crowd-pleasing dunk, NC State produced a 9-0 run late in the game to extend its lead to more than 20 points.

NC State led 41-37 at halftime before Freeman had the first basket of the second half. Then the Wolfpack went on an 8-2 spurt.

Starling and backcourt mate Naithan George combined to shoot 9-for-31 from the field, including 2-for-10 on 3s.

--Field Level Media