N.C. State continued its impressive NCAA Tournament run by defeating Marquette 67-58 and advancing to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1986. This game took place on the 50th anniversary of N.C. State’s first national championship in 1974, when they defeated Marquette for the title. The Wolfpack is now in a position to make a second championship run, much like they did in 1983.
The Wolfpack, seeded 11th in the South Region, will face either No. 1 seed Houston or No. 4 seed Duke in the Elite Eight. In their quest for the Final Four, N.C. State faced a significant achievement 41 years ago when they won the ACC Tournament and went on to secure the national title. The team, led by coach Kevin Keatts and standout player DJ Burns Jr., has shown resilience and determination throughout the tournament.
DJ Horne led the way with 19 points, Casey Morsell contributed 15 points, and Mohamed Diarra recorded a double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Marquette, the No. 2 seed, struggled with their shots, particularly from the 3-point range, which ultimately led to their defeat despite strong performances from Kam Jones and Tyler Kolek.
The Wolfpack’s victory over Marquette represents another milestone in their remarkable tournament run as they look to make history once again by reaching the Final Four.
This victory marks yet another achievement for N.C State as they continue their impressive NCAA Tournament run that began with a crucial victory in the ACC Tournament that secured their spot in March Madness.