NC State men’s basketball head coach Will Wade had some stark words following senior forward Ven-Allen Lubin’s transfer in June from North Carolina to the Wolfpack — the first player to directly transfer between the Tobacco Road rivals.
“The other school was too dumb to play him.”
The remark became a major talking point of the offseason, with Tar Heel fans criticizing the move and Wolfpack fans defending their new acquisition. And amid three NC State losses in four games, various social media users have criticized Lubin, claiming that Wade was wrong about him and that he wasn’t a good player.
But on Saturday afternoon against UNC Asheville, Lubin delivered a timely response and reinforced his coach’s belief in him and his talents.
The big man was the engine behind the Wolfpack’s (6-3) 75-63 victory over the Bulldogs (4-5) in the Lenovo Center. After just a four-point first half, Lubin erupted in the final 20 minutes for 19 points on 100% shooting from the field, scoring nearly half of the Wolfpack’s 40 points in the second half. He finished with 23 points and 12 rebounds — his second double-double of the season and his best game in the red-and-white.
“He’s a captain, he’s one of the main leaders on this team,” said freshman guard Matt Able. “When he does stuff like that, as a freshman, I’m like, ‘There he goes.’”
Lubin scored 11 straight Wolfpack points, but none more emphatic than his poster dunk, which brought every fan in the arena to their feet.
If he can't go around you, he'll just go over you. pic.twitter.com/Qfx44uaBni
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) December 6, 2025
“I don’t even know who he dunked on, but he punched on dude so bad,” Able said. “I was in the game, I’m freaking out. He just brings energy.”
The past week had been a rough one for Able, combining for just five points on 2-for-16 from the field over two games. But on Saturday, Able returned to form with 13 points, shooting 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and stretching the Bulldog defense. His poise and ability to rebound after a rough stretch are something rarely seen in such a young player.
“He’s had a lot of growth,” Wade said. “He’s a freshman, there’s gonna be ups and downs. There’s gonna be good and bad.”
A typically high-scoring presence, senior forward Darrion Williams finished with just eight points on 4-for-6 shooting. It was a low output for the Preseason ACC Player of the Year, but he made an impact in other ways with six assists and just one turnover, feeding Lubin’s hot hand.
“He was more of a playmaker today,” Wade said. “We don’t ever want Darrion to take a back seat, but when the ball is in his hands, good things happen.”
With the win, the Wolfpack moves to 5-0 at home, but remains 1-3 away from the Lenovo Center.
Next up, the Pack hosts Liberty on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and will be streamed on ACC Network.
