Why NC State's Tre Holloman was ejected in win over UNCG, not expected to be suspended

NC State senior guard Tre Holloman stood at center court before tipoff and seemed to have some words for UNCG’s players in a joking manner. Senior guard Quadir Copeland also jawed with a few Spartans players before the game even started, which appeared to set the stage for what was to come. 

The first half of NC State’s 110-64 win over UNCG had 44 total fouls called with 64 free throws between the teams in the opening 20 minutes alone. It was physical, but the referees also seemed to whistle nearly everything in their path as they tried to set the tone. 

It all boiled over just under five minutes into the game after sophomore guard Paul McNeil was fouled on a 3-point attempt in front of the Spartans’ bench. As the Pack players, led by Copeland, went to pick him up, some words were exchanged with UNCG. 

One thing led to another, and a fracas ensued. Holloman, who seemed to be walking away, appeared to be shoved in the back by UNCG senior guard Clyde Bailey II. That, in turn, led him to rejoin the quarrel and he extended an arm in the direction of Bailey. Holloman’s attempted lunge at Bailey quickly led to him being removed from the area by referee Eric Lewis.

Here’s a look at what transpired in NC State vs. UNCG.

NC State’s Tre Holloman was ejected for his actions, while Quadir Copeland picked up a technical. pic.twitter.com/RpkFMmAojx

— Noah Fleischman (@fleischman_noah) November 13, 2025

Upon further review, the officials ejected Holloman from the contest and issued a technical to Copeland in the process. 

“[Tre Holloman] reached through and slapped an opposing player in the face,” the official pool report read postgame. “My ruling was a flagrant two ejection, technical.”

Although Holloman was sent to the locker room early, he’s not expected to be suspended for NC State’s home game against VCU on Monday night since the officials didn’t tie a fighting element to the ruling, according to Wolfpack coach Will Wade. 

Wade, who wasn’t pleased with the call, noted NC State has to “be smarter” in game.

“You can’t go back and change that, so you just keep on moving,” Wade said.”[We] just kind of moved forward.”

Although it happened right in front of his bench, UNCG coach Mike Jones said he didn’t see the slap in live time as he was reprimanding Clinton Efinda for committing the foul on the 3-point attempt. The Spartans’ coach, who was quickly in the middle of the tussle, didn’t think Holloman reacted with malicious intent. 

“Those guys, they were fired up to play,” Jones said. “It’s just competition. It’s what it is. Guys get into a little bit, the juices flow a little bit. Sometimes you do things from an emotional standpoint, I think that’s all it was. I don’t think they’re bad kids or anything like that, I think it was just an emotional reaction.”

While Holloman, the Wolfpack’s starting point guard was tossed from the game just 4:22 into his action on the floor, redshirt senior guard Alyn Breed filled in well in his place as he scored 4 points with four rebounds and four assists in 27 minutes. 

Breed, a McNeese transfer that played in two games before suffering a season-ending injury last year, was able to run the point efficiently as he appeared to be a calming force for the Wolfpack offense following the ejection. 

NC State was also without redshirt junior guard Terrance Arceneaux due to injury. He was dressed for the game, but was ruled doubtful to play in a pregame statement issued via the team’s social media account.