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Sunday, March 31, 2024 (Posted Tuesday April 2)
NC STATE BEATS DUKE AGAIN, EDEY POWERS PURDUE
Concrete Kidstays in first; Concrete Kid and Figure Four go 2-0

MANZANAR NHS/DEATH VALLEY, CA (smt) – #1MW-Purdue’s 7′-4″ center Zach Edey had a career-high 40 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Boilermakers to their first Final Four since 1980 with a 72-66 win over #2MW-Tennessee.  Edey shot 22 free throws (made only 14) and had just one block, but a key one with 33 seconds left (zero last game).  Edey is so tall he didn’t even need a ladder to cut a piece of the net for himself.  Purdue only made 20% of their threes and just 63.6% of their free throws but still overcame the Vol’s 11 threes and Dalton’s Knect’s 37 points.  Purdue outscored Tenn 11-6 to end the game.

#11S-NC State continued their magical run in knocking off #4S-Duke for the second time during their 9-game winning streak, 76-64, to make their first Final Four since 1983.  The Wolfpack slowly chipped away at Duke’s 6-point halftime lead and after tying it at 35, went on a 23-9 run and never let the Blue Devils cut the lead to single digits.  NC State becomes the 7th double-digit Final Four team since 1985 (when field expanded to 64) and will try to become the first to make the final.