RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by grit over grace, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets authored a stunning road upset, defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack 78-74 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Lenovo Center.

Defying a pregame projection that gave them less than a 12% chance to win, the Yellow Jackets (11-8, 2-5 ACC) snapped a three-game conference losing streak by overcoming a torrent of turnovers with superior shot-making and critical defensive stops in the final minute. The Wolfpack (12-6, 3-3), installed as a 15.5-point favorite, saw a three-game winning streak end in a performance marred by poor shooting and an inability to capitalize on a significant advantage in takeaways.

The contest was a statistical paradox. North Carolina State’s defensive pressure was immense, forcing 16 Georgia Tech turnovers and converting them into 13 steals. The Wolfpack also dished out 13 assists to the Yellow Jackets’ five and blocked six shots. Yet, none of that translated to efficient offense. The Wolfpack shot a frigid 23 for 62 from the field, a 37.1% clip, and made just 12 of 33 attempts from three-point range. Georgia Tech, by contrast, was surgical when it secured possession, hitting 27 of 52 shots overall and 10 of 22 from beyond the arc.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds with Georgia Tech clinging to a 74-72 lead. After Lamar Washington split a pair of free throws to extend the lead to three, North Carolina State’s Quadir Copeland, who led all scorers with 16 points, missed a potential game-tying three-pointer with four seconds remaining. Georgia Tech’s Kowacie Reeves secured the defensive rebound, was fouled, and sank both free throws to seal the victory, capping a 21-point performance.

The Yellow Jackets’ victory was a collective effort from its starting five. Reeves, from Macon, Georgia, added five rebounds and three assists to his team-high point total. Lamar Washington of Portland, Oregon, scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Akai Fleming of Marietta, Georgia, contributed 16 points and a team-best seven rebounds. Jaeden Mustaf of Bowie, Maryland, posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Baye Ndongo of Mbour, Senegal, anchored the interior with nine rebounds and two blocks.

North Carolina State was led by Copeland’s all-around line of 16 points, six rebounds and six assists in 28 minutes. Ven-Allen Lubin of Orlando, Florida, provided 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. The Wolfpack’s supporting cast struggled from the field, with Darrion Williams managing just seven points on 2-for-9 shooting despite five assists.

The game’s tone was set early in a sloppy, physical first half. North Carolina State’s pressure forced eight Georgia Tech turnovers in the first eight minutes, but the Wolfpack could not build a substantial lead, missing several open looks. Georgia Tech weathered the storm and used a 7-0 run late in the half, capped by a Washington three-pointer, to take a brief lead. The teams traded blows until the halftime buzzer, where a Copeland layup gave the Wolfpack a narrow 35-34 edge.

The second half became a tense affair with eight lead changes. North Carolina State seemed to seize momentum midway through the period, using a 7-0 spurt to take a 52-47 lead following a Darrion Williams three-pointer. Georgia Tech responded immediately with an 8-0 run of its own, featuring a three-pointer from Reeves and a three-point play by Fleming, to retake the lead at 55-52.

From that point, neither team led by more than four points. With the score tied at 66 and under three minutes to play, Reeves struck again, draining a clutch three-pointer to put the Yellow Jackets ahead for good. North Carolina State had chances, but missed three-pointers on consecutive possessions down the stretch before Copeland’s final attempt rimmed out.

The game drew 16,378 fans. Georgia Tech next hosts Clemson on Jan. 24, while North Carolina State travels to face Clemson on Tuesday.