Can North Carolina State Wolfpack's Paint Domination Topple Ranked Duke Blue Devils?
The North Carolina State Wolfpack emerged victorious with a 74-69 scoreline against the Duke Blue Devils in a closely contested quarterfinal. The Wolfpack now stands at an impressive record, while the Blue Devils' record takes a hit with this defeat. The game was held at the Capital One Arena, where both teams fought hard to secure their place in the next round.
The North Carolina State team showcased a robust defensive performance, blocking six shots and stealing the ball seven times from their opponents. Their offense was equally impressive, with 14 assists contributing to their total of 74 points. A significant factor in their victory was their dominance inside the paint, where they scored 34 points.
In terms of shooting efficiency, the Wolfpack had a field goal percentage of 46 and were particularly effective from beyond the arc with a three-point shooting percentage of 44. They also capitalized on second-chance opportunities by scoring 18 points following offensive rebounds.
Despite being outrebounded by four boards overall, with only eight offensive rebounds compared to ten by Duke, they managed to maintain control throughout much of the game. This control is reflected in an assists-turnover ratio of 1.56 and securing eight points off turnovers.
On free throws, however, both teams struggled somewhat; North Carolina State made just over half at a rate of 55 percent while Duke edged slightly better at 57 percent from the line.
The Blue Devils did not go down without a fight; they outscored North Carolina State in fast break points and had one more steal than them during this encounter. They also committed fewer turnovers than usual but ultimately fell short due to lower three-point (25 percent) and field goal percentages (43 percent).
Looking ahead for fans of The Wolfpack: The next challenge will be against Virginia Cavaliers on March 15th at Capital One Arena scheduled for tip-off at 9:30 PM Eastern Time. Fans can catch all live action on ESPN Networks as North Carolina State looks forward to continuing its postseason journey.