NC State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) celebrates with his teammates after making a shot while getting fouled late in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64.
Chris Torres
ctorres@star-telegram.com
The No. 11 NC State mens basketball team continues their Cinderella run and marches on to the Final Four with a dominant win over their conference rival Duke at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Easter Sunday.
The Wolfpack’s leader and bruising, big man DJ Burns Jr. scored 21 of his 29 points in the second half to surge his team to a 76-64 victory and a Southern Regional championship for the NCAA Division I mens basketball tournament.
Now they will take the trip to Glendale, Arizona where they will play 7-foot-4 All-American Zach Edey and Purdue in the first national semifinal game Saturday April 6th.
See photos from NC State’s victory over Duke in the Elite 8:
NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts waves around the net after cutting it to celebrate after winning their Elite 8 South Regional match up against the Duke Blue Devils and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) cuts the net to celebrate after winning their Elite 8 South Regional match up against the Duke Blue Devils and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward Mohamed Diarra (23) goes for a layup over Duke forward Mark Mitchell (25) in the first half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State guard DJ Horne (0) celebrates after making a floater in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game against the Duke Blue Devils of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) guards Duke guard Jared McCain (0) in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game between the Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Duke forward Mark Mitchell (25) reacts to scoring the basket while getting fouled in the first half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game between the Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) celebrates with his teammates after making a shot while getting fouled late in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Duke guard Jeremy Roach (3) goes up for a layup against NC State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game between the Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward DJ Burns Jr. (30) shoots a hook shot over Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) in the first half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
Duke center Kyle Filipowski (30) reacts to fouling out of the game in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward Ben Middlebrooks (34) reacts to drawing an offensive foul in the second half of the Elite 8 South Regional Championship game between the Duke Blue Devils and NC State Wolfpack of NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State forward Mohamed Diarra (23) hoists the South Regional Championship trophy after winning their Elite 8 South Regional match up against the Duke Blue Devils and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts holds the South Regional Championship trophy after winning their Elite 8 South Regional match up against the Duke Blue Devils and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
NC State Head Coach Kevin Keatts heads to the locker room wearing the net after winning their Elite 8 South Regional match up against the Duke Blue Devils and advance to the Final Four of the NCAA Division I Mens Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Sunday, March 31, 2024. NC State defeated Duke 76-64. Chris Torres ctorres@star-telegram.com
This story was originally published April 1, 2024 at 4:12 AM.
