North Carolina State looked like it was going nowhere when March began.
But on the final day of the month, the Wolfpack etched themselves into program lore by punching their ticket to the Final Four for the first time since Jim Valvano’s memorable team won the 1983 national championship.
No. 11 seed North Carolina State stands just two victories from a national title after dispatching rival Duke 76-64 on Sunday in the South Region final in Dallas.
DJ Burns Jr. scored 29 points on 13-of-19 shooting as the streaking Wolfpack (26-14) won their ninth consecutive game. North Carolina State lost its final four regular-season games and 10 of 14 before going on the scintillating run.
North Carolina State will face No. 1 seed Purdue in the national semifinals on Saturday in Phoenix.
“We’ve done a really good job,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said. “When I say we, I mean these young men in the locker room through all the adversity that we have went through, the ups and downs of winning games and losing games.
“They never lost their faith and stayed together. It means a lot. It really does.”
Burns, a hefty inside force, was named Most Outstanding Player of the South Region. He is averaging 18.3 points and shooting 67.4 percent from the floor in the NCAA Tournament.
He also has helped a seemingly lost season transform into a memorable campaign.
“There has just been a switch in our commitment,” Burns said. “Nobody’s being late to things, nobody’s being a problem on the court, everybody’s come together.”
DJ Horne added 20 points for the Wolfpack, who dominated the second half on Sunday. NC State shot 73.1 percent (19 of 26) from the floor over the final 20 minutes.
Jared McCain scored 32 points for No. 4 seed Duke (27-9), which shot just 32.2 percent from the floor, including 5 of 20 from 3-point range.
Jeremy Roach added 13 points and Kyle Filipowski had 11 points and nine rebounds
before fouling out for the Blue Devils.
Overall, North Carolina State made 46.7 percent of its shots, including 3 of 13 from behind the arc. Michael O’Connell contributed 11 rebounds and six assists.
“Everyone has been making huge plays down this run, and that’s why I think we’re getting these wins,” O’Connell said.
This was the third meeting this month between the two Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. North Carolina State won two of them.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer was disappointed with the setback that ended his second season as coach.
“I think our program couldn’t be in a stronger place,” Scheyer said. “We’re just 20 minutes away from going to a Final Four in our second year.
“I don’t shy away from our expectations or what we want to do, but for me, that’s not the way I’m thinking at all. I’m just hurting for these guys right now.”
The Wolfpack trailed 27-21 at halftime before outscoring Duke 37-17 over the first 15:40 of the second half.
North Carolina State moved ahead at 36-35 on Horne’s two free throws with 12:59 left in the game.
Filipowski converted a three-point play to push Duke back into the lead before the Wolfpack scored eight straight points and 12 of the next 14.
Burns had two baskets during the 8-0 run, and the Wolfpack held a 44-38 advantage with 9:49 remaining. After Roach drove for a layup, Burns and Horne hit jumpers to boost the North Carolina State lead to 48-40 with 8:27 to play.
McCain hit two free throws for Duke with 8:03 left. O’Connell drained a 3-pointer and Burns scored inside to give the Wolfpack a 53-42 lead with 6:55 remaining.
Filipowski fouled out with 4:52 remaining, and Burns added a short jumper 32 seconds later to give the Wolfpack a 58-44 lead.
Duke was unable to make a late charge as the stunning North Carolina State run continued.
It was a game in which the Blue Devils’ offense never found a comfort zone.
“They’re on a hell of a run right now,” Roach said. “Just give credit to them. We weren’t us today.”
–Field Level Media
