In a stunning upset, the No. 11 seed NC State Wolfpack emerged victorious over the No. 2 seed Marquette Golden Eagles in a thrilling NCAA tournament matchup. The game was a true David vs Goliath battle, with many expecting Marquette to easily dispatch their lower-ranked opponent. However, NC State had other plans and came out swinging from the opening tip-off.
Led by standout performances from their star players, the Wolfpack played with grit and determination throughout the game. Their defense stifled Marquette's offense, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on fast break opportunities. The crowd erupted in cheers as NC State pulled ahead in the final minutes of the game, securing a historic win that will be remembered for years to come.
The Wolfpack (25-14) dominated the first 20 minutes of the game and held on down the stretch to keep its March Madness run alive with its eighth win in a row. The Golden Eagles (27-10) finished 4-of-31 from 3-point range to end the season.
In the second half, though, the Wolfpack woke up. NC State — led by junior Aziaha James — scored 28 in the third quarter alone, and led by as much as 15 late in the fourth as the third-seeded Wolfpack (30-6) upset second-seeded Stanford (30-6) on Friday night in Portland, Oregon, winning 77-67 to advance in March Madness.
Meanwhile, fellow forward D.J. Burns was able to consistently find open teammates when he saw extra defensive attention and finished the contest with seven assists. He also recorded four points and four rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field.
NC State jumped out to an early 20-10 advantage with just under 13 minutes remaining in the first half. Although Marquette stayed within striking distance for most of the second half, the Golden Eagles were never able to take the lead after halftime.
College basketball fans were amazed with the upset victory by the unlikely ACC tournament champions as the Wolfpack continued their incredible run.
North Carolina State will face the winner of No. 1 Houston and No. 4 Duke on Sunday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
The NC State men’s basketball team were not the only ones celebrating on Friday night.
The Wolfpack women’s basketball team also clinched their spot in the Elite Eight following a 77-67 win over No. 2 Stanford in the Sweet 16. They will face the winner of No. 1 Texas and No. 4 Gonzaga on Sunday at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.
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