Pack Headed to Elite Eight

DALLAS – The NC State men's basketball team is headed to the Elite Eight for the first time since 1986 after defeating second-seed Marquette, 67-58, Friday night at American Airlines Center in the Sweet 16.

The Pack's defense shined on Friday night as NC State held Marquette to 33.3 percent shooting from the field, including just 4-of-31 (12.9 percent) from three-point range. It's the fifth consecutive game the Pack has held

The Golden Eagles field goal percentage was the lowest for an NC State opponent this season

Marquette jumped out to a 5-2 lead to start the game but that proved to be the Golden Eagles largest lead of the game. NC State took its first lead of a game on three-pointer by Michael O'Connell to make it 7-5 with 16:22 to play and the Pack would never trail again.

Leading 9-8, NC State went on an 11-2 run to take its first double-digit lead of the game, 20-10, on a Ben Middlebrooks lay-up.

The Golden Eagles would get back within five, 24-19, but another NC State run, this one a 12-3 spurt, gave the Pack its largest lead of the first half, 36-22, with 1:28 left in the opening 20 minutes.

NC State shot 53.6 percent in the first half to take a 37-24 lead into the halftime locker room.

In the second half, Marquette did not get within single digits until a three-point play with 7:26 got the Golden Eagles within eight, 53-45, with 7:26 remaining.

After almost two minutes of neither team scoring, Mohamed Diarra gathered a loose ball and laid it to push the Pack's lead back to 10, 55-45, with 5:29 left.

Marquette scored the next four points though to get within six with 4:21 to go when DJ Horne drilled a three-pointer to push the Pack's advantage back to nine.

The Golden Eagles would not go away though as a three-point play again brought Marquette within six, 58-52, with 3:39 to play.

After an empty possession by both teams, Casey Morsell made a driving lay-up to push the Pack's lead back to eight with 2:21 to play.

After a defensive stop, Michael O'Connell beat the shot clock with a high-arching three to push the Pack's lead up to 11 with 1:35 to play.

Marquette made one final push, making one free throw and then rebounding the missed free throw and making a three-pointer to get within seven, 63-56, with 1:20 to play.

Diarra answered though with two free throws though and then after a stop, Horne made two more to give NC State a 67-56 lead with 29 seconds to go and effectively put the game away.

Horne led NC State with 19 points. During the game, he made his 100^th three-pointer of the season, joining Scott Wood and Rodney Monroe as the only players in NC State history to make 100 or more three-pointers in a single season.

Morsell chipped in 15 points while Diarra had his fifth double-double in the last six games with 11 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.

DJ Burns, Jr., was held to just four points, but tied his career-high with a game-high seven assists.

NC State will face the winner of top-seed Houston and fourth-seed Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday.

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Team Stats

DJ Horne

Casey Morsell

Mohamed Diarra

Michael O'Connell

Players Mentioned

DJ Burns, Jr.

Mohamed Diarra

DJ Horne

Ben Middlebrooks

Casey Morsell

Michael O'Connell