DALLAS — The ACC will have a representative at the Final Four. It may not be the one many expect to start the season.
DJ Burns Jr. scored 29 points, including 21 in the second half, to lead 11th-seeded NC State to a 76-64 victory over fourth-seeded Duke in Sunday’s South Regional final, clinching the program’s first ticket to the Final Four since Jim. Valvano and company won it all in 1983.
In Phoenix, the Wolfpack will face Zach Edey and Purdue, who advanced earlier in the day with a victory over Tennessee.
Burns only scored four points in NC State’s Sweet 16 game against Marquette, but made his mark on that game with seven assists. “You’re going to be double-teamed, I’m going to do my best to make you pay,” Burns said Saturday before the Duke game.
Regardless of defenders, the 6-foot-9 big man charged the Blue Devils on Sunday. A lot.
He scored the Wolfpack’s first four points, but foul trouble later in the half kept him from dominating early. NC State trailed 27-21 at halftime. After that, it was all about Burns, who was named South Region MVP.
It was the third time in the past month that the two teams have faced each other. In a loss at North Carolina State on March 4, Burns scored 27. In a Wolfpack victory in the ACC tournament on March 14, Burns scored only 10. On Sunday, he put it all together – big numbers and an even bigger win – capped by a three-point play with just under a minute to play.
DJ BURNS HITS EVERY SHOT 😳#MarchMadness @PackMensBball pic.twitter.com/sczUS0YBnq
– NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 31, 2024
Guard DJ Horne added 20 points and three assists for the Wolfpack, who lost their last four regular-season games before this series that puts them among the bottom four teams in contention.
Freshman guard Jared McCain had 32 points and six rebounds for Duke. Big man Kyle Filipowski had 11 points and nine rebounds before fouling out.
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(Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)