RALEIGH, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning individual performance and a frantic final sequence, Ebuka Okorie scored 33 points to lead Stanford to a dramatic 85-84 victory over North Carolina State in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Lenovo Center.

The contest, organized by the Atlantic Coast Conference, saw Stanford improve to 20-11 overall while North Carolina State fell to 19-12. A crowd of 18,922 watched as the Cardinal, a pregame underdog, weathered a second-half surge by the Wolfpack and executed perfectly in the closing seconds to secure the win.

The most critical juncture of the game unfolded in the final 25 seconds. With Stanford clinging to an 81-79 lead, North Carolina State’s Quadir Copeland was fouled on a driving layup that fell, giving him a chance for a three-point play. He missed the ensuing free throw, but Darrion Williams secured the offensive rebound. Tre Holloman then gathered the loose ball and scored another layup while being fouled, completing his own three-point play to put the Wolfpack ahead 82-81 with 23 seconds remaining.

Stanford’s response was immediate. The Cardinal inbounded to Okorie, who drove the length of the court and finished a difficult layup through traffic to reclaim an 83-82 lead with just six seconds left. On the ensuing possession, North Carolina State’s Paul McNeil sank a deep 3-pointer from the wing, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and putting the Wolfpack back on top 84-83 with only two seconds showing on the clock.

With no timeouts remaining, Stanford quickly inbounded the ball to Jeremy Dent-Smith near midcourt. As he turned upcourt, he was fouled by North Carolina State’s Terrance Arceneaux with 0.9 seconds remaining, sending him to the free-throw line for two shots. Dent-Smith, a reserve guard from Hawthorne, California, calmly sank both free throws to put Stanford ahead by the final margin. A desperation heave by North Carolina State was not close as time expired.

The thrilling finish capped a masterful outing by Okorie, a guard from Nashua, New Hampshire. He played 38 minutes, shooting efficiently from the field and adding three assists and a block. His scoring output continued a torrid late-season stretch, following games of 24, 22 and 34 points in his previous three outings. He was supported by Jaylen Thompson, who had 15 points, and AJ Rohosy, who added 14 points and several key rebounds.

Stanford controlled the first half, building a 37-34 lead at intermission behind Okorie’s early scoring and effective interior play, which led to a 40-36 advantage in points in the paint for the game. The Cardinal also capitalized slightly more on mistakes, scoring 11 points off turnovers compared to 10 for the Wolfpack.

North Carolina State emerged from halftime with renewed energy, unleashing a 16-7 run over the first five minutes of the second period. The surge was fueled by back-to-back 3-pointers from Holloman and aggressive transition play, as the Wolfpack finished with 17 fast-break points. The run forced an early Stanford timeout and gave North Carolina State its largest lead at 46-44.

The teams then traded blows in a tense, back-and-forth second half that featured nine lead changes. North Carolina State’s offense was balanced, with five players scoring in double figures. Ven-Allen Lubin led the Wolfpack with 17 points and was a force on the glass. Quadir Copeland scored 16, Holloman added 15, Matt Able contributed 13 and McNeil finished with 13, including the late 3-pointer that appeared to be a winner.

Stanford’s ability to answer every Wolfpack push, however, proved decisive. The Cardinal shot consistently in key moments and, despite being outscored 50-48 in the second half, made the final necessary plays. The victory marked Stanford’s third win in its last four games as it heads toward postseason play, while North Carolina State suffered a second consecutive narrow defeat in a game it was projected to win. The total score of 169 points surpassed the pregame over/under line of 154.5.