- Matchup: Texas Longhorns vs NC State Wolfpack
- Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
- Venue: UD Arena, Dayton, OH
- Broadcast: truTV
- Betting Line: NC State (-2)
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In an exciting matchup at UD Arena, the NC State Wolfpack (20-13) are set to take on the Texas Longhorns (18-14) on Tuesday, March 17, as part of the NCAA Tournament’s First Four. Vegas has installed North Carolina State as 2-point favorites for this contest, with an over/under line set at 158.
The Texas Longhorns recently faced off against Ole Miss, suffering a defeat with a final score of 76-66. In that game, Texas committed 14 fouls while Ole Miss recorded 17 fouls. The Longhorns struggled from beyond the arc, making only 1 of 10 three-point attempts. Ole Miss converted 15 of 20 free throw attempts, finishing with a 75.0% success rate. Additionally, Ole Miss secured 31 rebounds (6 offensive, 25 defensive) without a block but registered 9 assists and 12 steals. Defensively, Texas allowed Ole Miss to shoot 46.9% from the field, as they converted 30 of 64 shots. Texas managed to dish out 12 assists while forcing 3 turnovers and earning 1 steal. They secured 35 rebounds, with 8 being offensive, and shot 84.0% from the charity stripe, making 21 of 25 attempts. Their shooting percentages were 35.2% from the field (19 of 54) and 35.0% from three-point range (7 of 20).
Dailyn Swain was a standout player in this game, finishing with a shooting percentage of 44.4%. He contributed 4 assists, played 38 minutes, and grabbed 12 rebounds, scoring a total of 22 points on 4 of 9 shooting.
The Longhorns hold an 18-14 record this season. They turn the ball over 11.0 times per game and average 18.8 fouls. As a team, Texas collects 37.7 rebounds per game and has recorded 394 assists this season, ranking them 295th in Division 1. Their three-point shooting stands at 35.3% (237 of 671), and they convert 75.2% of free throw attempts. Texas is averaging 83.8 points per game, placing them 26th in the country, with a field goal percentage of 48.6%.
On the defensive side, Texas forces 9.4 turnovers per game and draws 21.3 fouls. Their perimeter defense allows opponents to shoot 36.0% from three-point territory and they rank 260th nationally in points per game allowed (76.8). The Longhorns give up 44.9% on field goals, allowing 837 of 1,864 shots to be made, while grabbing an average of 30.3 rebounds per game. They also rank 48th in assists allowed, with 381 conceded this season.
In their most recent game, the NC State Wolfpack fell short with a final score of 81-74 against Virginia. NC State secured 18 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive rebounds for a total of 25. They turned the ball over 9 times, but managed to achieve 5 steals. Virginia committed 17 fouls, allowing the Wolfpack to take 24 free throw attempts, with them making 21 for an 87.5% success rate. From beyond the arc, North Carolina State shot a commendable 50.0%, sinking 11 of 22. Their overall shooting percentage was 36.8%, hitting 21 out of 57 attempts, while Virginia shot 47.5% by converting 29 of 61 attempts. NC State allowed Virginia to grab 32 rebounds, including 7 offensively.
Paul McNeil Jr. was instrumental for the Wolfpack, scoring 26 points with a shooting percentage of 46.7% (7 of 15) and accumulating 6 rebounds during 34 minutes of play, adding 1 assist to his performance.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack record stands at 20-13 for the season. Their offense boasts a field goal percentage of 46.8%, ranking 81st in collegiate basketball. North Carolina State has scored a total of 2,762 points this year, averaging 83.7 points per game. They also grab an average of 34.5 rebounds and dish out 15.6 assists per game, positioning them 83rd in Division 1. The Wolfpack average 9.2 turnovers per game and commit 18.2 personal fouls, hitting 76.8% from the charity stripe.
The NC State defense gives up 35.6% on three-point shots (310 of 870) and allows opponents to convert 69.8% of their free throw attempts. They give up 12.9 assists and 35.5 rebounds per game, ranking 142nd and 251st in the nation, respectively. Defensively, the Wolfpack are positioned 252nd in PPG allowed at 76.5. They force an average of 12.8 turnovers per game and allow teams to shoot 45.0% from the field, ranking 232nd in NCAA basketball.
Who will come out on top in tonight’s NCAA matchup against the spread?
Prediction: Back North Carolina State (-2)
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