There are few things better in sports than an in-state collegiate rivalry. On paper, it’s just another game on the calendar. But in reality, there’s much more at stake than a tally in the win or loss column. It’s about bragging rights. It’s about sending a message. It’s personal.

When NC State men’s basketball hosted No. 16 UNC-Chapel Hill for their 250th meeting, it was clear that no love was lost between the two teams. They share a storied history of hatred, and the Tar Heels have notably had the upper hand for years.

But Tuesday night was different. The script was flipped. Instead of falling to UNC as it had done in the past, the Wolfpack dominated the Tar Heels 82-58, marking its biggest win over its Carolina blue counterparts since 1962. And when NC State players entered their postgame press conference sporting a bedazzled belt — the same thing that the Tar Heels have done in big wins this season — the message was clear.

“They was talking a lot,” said senior guard Quadir Copeland. “North Carolina schools this, North Carolina schools that. It’s crazy how fast them tables turn. We bedazzled our belt too, for them.”

As he’s done all season, Copeland simply took over for the Wolfpack. With UNC’s top players — Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar — ruled out, Copeland took advantage of his 6-foot-6 frame, backing down the smaller UNC guards and driving into the lane with authority. On the few times he couldn’t finesse his way into a layup, Copeland found an open man for a free bucket — all without turning the ball over — and finished with 20 points, six rebounds and seven assists.

“I felt like he controlled the game,” said UNC head coach Hubert Davis. “His talent out there is real. He’s able to handle the basketball, really makes great decisions.”

Copeland didn’t always have the reins. This season, the Wolfpack has struggled with creating offensive momentum early, so senior forward Darrion Williams took it into his own hands, scoring seven of the first nine points for the Wolfpack.

But just five minutes into the game, Williams got bumped while going for a block and took a scary fall directly onto his face. He remained on the baseline, blood pooling on the court before heading back to the locker room with the medical staff.

However, Williams fought through the pain and emerged from the locker room to raucous cheering, sporting a stitched-up eyebrow and a new No. 34 jersey, a replacement for his blood-soaked No. 1. He only scored six more points, but his return brought life back to both the arena and his team.

“We all saw him bleeding on the ground; it was pretty bad,” said freshman guard Matt Able. “For him to come back out a couple of minutes later and be there, and not only be there, but play hard. He played just as hard as he was before he left.”

Able took his leader’s actions to heart and put on a show with a career-high 19 points and five 3-pointers. When the star player went down, the former five-star recruit rose to the occasion and filled in the gaps when his team needed him most.

“I feel like Matt just fully bought in,” Copeland said. “I wouldn’t say he accepted his role because he does so many different things for us, but he bought into the winning part, not the individual. I think that’s not even just him, it’s all of us.”

The win was just another stepping stone in head coach Will Wade’s plans of a reckoning. It was more than a win, it reaffirmed his belief and investment, not just in the team but in the fans.

“I represent NC State,” Wade said. “I represent our fan base. I represent our school. If it’s important to our fans, it’s important to us and it’s important to me.”

The Wolfpack needs to carry the momentum over through the final stretch of the season, beginning with a trip up north to take on No. 14 Virginia on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m and will be streamed on ACC Network.