N.C. State vs. UNC: Score and Twitter Reaction for Wolfpack's Upset Win

All season long, Roy Williams has pointed toward his team's leaky defense as North Carolina's potential undoing. On Tuesday, however, it was a historically bad offensive performance that will send the Tar Heels back to the drawing board.

Anthony Barber scored a team-high 15 points as one of three players in double figures, as North Carolina State held UNC to 34.5 percent shooting in a 58-46 upset. The Tar Heels' 46 points were the fewest they've ever scored at the Dean Smith Center, per Pack Pride.

The Wolfpack held North Carolina to only 19 points in the first half and never trailed outside a 2-0 early hole despite shooting 35.1 percent. Barber, Ralston Turner and Trevor Lacey (14 points apiece) were the only North Carolina State players who scored more than five points.

They largely held on thanks to some slick three-point shooting from Turner, a 16-9 free-throw advantage and some head-scratching offensive play from North Carolina.

"

This is the 296th home game for North Carolina under Roy Williams and the first time it was held under 20 points in the first half.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 25, 2015"

The Tar Heels, who entered the night 11th in offensive efficiency, per Ken Pomeroy, were disjointed and seemingly ill-prepared throughout.

Justin Jackson led the way with a game-high 16 points but shot the ball a career-high 17 times as the offense around him flailed. Kennedy Meeks turned in a double-double (12 points, 14 rebounds) built somewhat on the back of his teammates' misses, and Marcus Paige disappeared for long stretches.

The real culprit of UNC's struggles, though, were eight other players who touched the floor. The bench plus Brice Johnson and J.P. Tokoto combined to make four of their 20 field-goal attempts; Johnson and Tokoto were a combined 2-of-12.

North Carolina has lost five of its last seven games, a period in which it has dropped from legitimate contender to inconsistent disaster. Williams' squad has struggled one night with defense, another with offense and done so with no rhyme or reason. Tuesday was the first time a Williams-coached team has lost at home to its in-state rival, per Pack Pride.

The Wolfpack, meanwhile, have reeled off two critical road wins in as many weeks. Defeating North Carolina and Louisville in short order should make Mark Gottfried's team a lock for the NCAA tournament—a massive boost given it was probably on the outside looking in after its loss to Wake Forest three weeks ago.

Closing with three unranked opponents gives Gottfried a chance to build even more momentum heading into the conference tournament. Or, on the flip side, watch on as the whole thing implodes. But if anything, these last two weeks have proven the Wolfpack won't be an easy out for any team come March.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.