Not pretty, but Purdue basketball ends NC State’s Final Four run, advances to NCAA title game

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — Perfection it was not. But Purdue basketball won’t apologize for winning ugly in the Final Four.

The Boilermakers, up against an underdog North Carolina State squad on a run of nine straight win-or-go-home victories, started hot before enduring a rough and rugged war with the Wolfpack.

Ultimately, it was Midwest No. 1 seed Purdue that survived and advanced with timely 3-pointers helping the Boilermakers lead from start to finish and move on to the national championship game with a 63-50 win in Saturday night’s Final Four at State Farm Stadium.

More: Gene Keady’s Purdue never made Final Four. But in many ways, this one belongs to him.

The Boilers (34-4) now attempt to win their first NCAA title in their second championship game appearance. Purdue lost to UCLA in the 1969 title game. They await the winners of the second national semifinal between No. 1-seed UConn (35-3) and No. 4 Alabama (25-11).

N.C. State’s defensive strategy Saturday was to harass point guard Braden Smith. It kept the Wolfpack in the game. At halftime, Smith was 0-for-6 with five turnovers.

Smith went the second half without a turnover and, despite going scoreless until a late 3, contributed 8 rebounds and 6 assists.

Purdue Boilermakers guard Lance Jones (55) dribbles the ball during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four game against the North Carolina State Wolfpack, Saturday, April 6, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

It was over when

Despite a lackluster final 15 minutes of the first half, Purdue still led 35-29. The Boilermakers came out and turned the ball over three times in a span of 3:27.

Then Mason Gillis hit a corner 3, Fletcher Loyer stole the ball on North Carolina State’s ensuing possession and Lance Jones connected on a 3.

Just like that, Purdue led by 12.

It was all she wrote for the Wolfpack after that, who had no counterpunch.

More: How Purdue basketball got to the Final Four by being a player-led operation

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/not-pretty-purdue-basketball-ends-001554267.html

Author : Journal & Courier

Publish date : 2024-04-07 00:15:54

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