WASHINGTON — NC State basketball is making some noise at the 2024 ACC Tournament.
Needing to win the ACC championship to secure a bid in the NCAA Tournament, the Wolfpack kept those hopes alive with a 74-69 win against reigning ACC champion Duke on Thursday at Capital One Arena.
Behind another balanced effort led by DJ Horne, the Wolfpack (20-14) had five players finish in double figures and won its third game in as many days to upset the 11th-ranked Blue Devils (24-8), who will carry back-to-back losses into March Madness.
Horne finished with 18 points for NC State, which will play Boston College or Virginia in Friday night’s second semifinal.
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Here’s what stood out in NC State’s upset win against the Blue Devils.
Mo Diarra has been sensational for NC State basketball
Mo Diarra is having one heck of an ACC Tournament for the Wolfpack. Diarra had 14 points, 16 rebounds, four blocks and three steals against the Blue Devils. After finishing with eight points and 14 rebounds against Syracuse, Diarra carried that momentum into Thursday with impressive energy and effort on the interior
Duke basketball’s Kyle Filipowski, Mark Mitchell lead Blue Devils
Kyle Filipowski and Mark Mitchell combined for 46 points and 21 rebounds, keeping the Blue Devils in the game as their guards struggled against the Wolfpack. But Duke was fighting an uphill battle from the start against a Wolfpack squad that looked desperate to make its postseason dreams a reality. Filipowski finished with 28 points and 13 rebounds.
NC State to play Boston College or Virginia next
The Wolfpack will play Boston College or Virginia in Friday’s second semifinal, which is tentatively scheduled for 9 p.m. after UNC plays Pitt. NC State swept the Eagles in the regular season and split a pair of games against the Cavaliers.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
First appeared on www.fayobserver.com