Stanford Cardinal's March Madness Journey Ends at the Hands of North Carolina State Wolfpack
The Stanford Cardinal, ranked 5th, faced off against the 11th-ranked North Carolina State Wolfpack in a highly anticipated Sweet 16 matchup. The game concluded with the Cardinal holding a record of 67-77 and the Wolfpack advancing their tally to 77-67.
The contest unfolded at Portland's Moda Center, where both teams engaged in a fierce battle for dominance. The Stanford Cardinal started strong, outscoring their opponents by one point in the first quarter with a score of 12-11. However, as the game progressed into the second quarter, they managed to extend their lead by putting up an impressive 25 points against North Carolina State's 16.
Despite this early advantage for Stanford, momentum shifted dramatically after halftime. The third quarter saw a dominant performance from North Carolina State as they racked up an astounding 28 points while limiting Stanford to just ten. This surge put them ahead and set up a tense final period.
In terms of statistics, Stanford showcased their defensive capabilities with seven blocks compared to North Carolina State's two and also led in total rebounds with forty-two against thirty-five from their opponents. However, turnovers proved costly for Stanford; they committed fourteen compared to only seven by North Carolina State.
Offensively, despite shooting over fifty percent from two-point range (51), making twenty-three out of forty-five attempts, Stanford struggled beyond the arc with only five three-pointers made out of twenty-five attempts – translating into twenty percent accuracy from downtown. On the other hand, North Carolina State shot forty-one percent from three-point land and eighty-four percent on free throws which contributed significantly to their victory.
Key players for both teams performed admirably under pressure; however it was ultimately NCST’s ability to capitalize on fast break opportunities (eleven fast break points) and maintain higher efficiency that sealed their win.
As fans reflect on what might have been for Stanford Cardinal this season after such an intense encounter at Moda Center during prime time basketball hours (6:00 PM PT), they can look forward to future broadcasts featuring these talented athletes as they continue striving towards excellence on court.