Purdue downs NC State to advance to national championship game (2024)

THE BOILERS WILL PLAY FOR A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1969 🚂#MarchMadness @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/VzC4FTZUkI

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 7, 2024

The Boilermakers' dream season of redemption rolls on to Monday night after a 63-50 win over NC State in the Final Four.

This is the second national championship appearance in program history for Purdue, but the first since 1969.

Purdue's defense was the biggest reason it never trailed. NC State's DJ Burns scored just eight points on 4 of 10 shooting and just one rebound.

Offensively, the Boilers weren't as dominant as we've been accustomed to this season. But quietly,Zach Edey scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebound to lead the game in both categories. Purdue also made 10 3-pointers, with Lance Jones making four of his nine attempts on 3-pointers.

PURDUE IS ROLLING NOW 🚂#MarchMadness @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/ywD1XTVjvm

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2024

NC State is on the ropes as Purdue is closing in on a trip to Monday night.

With under four minutes to go, Purdue leads 61-43

Lance Jones hits AGAIN from deep 😳#MarchMadness @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/v5MnBiwo4w

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2024

Lance Jones' wide-open 3 puts Purdue up 12 with 12:40 to go in the game at 45-33.

NC State is struggling big-time on offense, with just four points in more than seven minutes of play in the second half. The Boilers haven't been much better offensively in the second half, but 3-pointers by Jones and Mason Gillis have all the momentum on their side.

Zach Edey has five turnovers overall and has yet to score in the second half.

Zach Edey and DJ Horne were COOKING in the first 20 minutes ♨️

Lock in to TBS for the second half 🔒 pic.twitter.com/1nMPIjyxhL

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2024

The second half is here: DJ Burns Jr. and NC State fought back late in the first to give themselves a chance to keep their dream season alive while Zach Edey and Purdue look to continue to dominate on both ends.

Tune in on TBS to see which team will advance to Monday night.

NC State used a late half run to crawl back into the game, but No. 1 Purdue leads, 35-29, at the break.

DJ Horne has been phenomenal for the Pack, his 13 points leading NC State.

Zach Edey has continued his dominant tournament with 14 points and six rebounds in the half. But he quieted down in the later stages of the half after NC State took DJ Burns out of the game due to foul trouble.

Burns, the primary catalyst of the Wolfpack's improbable run, has been limited to just four points through 20 minutes.

Here are stats for both teams after one half of basketball.

Purdue

NC State

Powered by Zach Edey, No. 1 Purdue leads 26-16 with 6:30 remaining in the first half. Edey has 11 points and five rebounds.

A six-plus minute stretch without a whistle was headlined by NC State's inability to get a defensive rebound. Purdue has already managed to double NC State on the glass, leading the rebound margin 16-8.

DJ Burns has yet to find his scoring touch, but has spread the ball around nicely with four assists in just 11 minutes.

Notably, no one on Purdue has committed a foul almost 14 minutes into the game, while Burns has already picked up two for NC State.

We are underway in the 2024 Final Four!

Zach Edey and No. 1 Purdue battle DJ Burns and No. 11 NC State from State Farm Stadium in Arizona. Here are the starting lineups for both teams:

Purdue

• Braden Smith
• Lance Jones
• Fletcher Loyer
• Trey Kaufman-Renn
• Zach Edey

The Purdue redemption run has taken the Boilermakers to the valley for the #MFinalFour 🚂#MarchMadness @BoilerBall pic.twitter.com/a1RgaWTP2n

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2024

NC State

• Michael O'Connell
• DJ Horne
• Casey Morsell
• Mohamed Diarra
• DJ Burns Jr.

The Wolfpack are ready to show out once again in the #MFinalFour 😤#MarchMadness @PackMensBball pic.twitter.com/FVXOPCAktA

— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 6, 2024

Get ready for the Men's Final Four. It's (1) Purdue against (11) NC State, with the Boilermakers and Wolfpack kicking off the semifinals. Here's how you can watch:

• Time: 6:09 p.m. ET
• Date: Saturday, Apr. 6
• TV channel: TBS/TNT/truTV
• Streaming:March Madness Live
• Location: State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona

Purdue and NC State are a No. 1 and No. 11 seed in the 2024 men's NCAA tournament, respectively. Here's how they stack up based on this season's results and stats.

NC State has won nine straight games entering the Final Four, dating back to a run to the ACC tournament title as a 10 seed. The Wolfpack then won four NCAA tournament games as an 11 seed, with three upsets in its national tournament run.

See every 2024 NCAA tournament result from NC State below:

Purdue bounced back from an overtime loss in the 2024Big Ten tournament semifinalsto rattle off four straight NCAA tournament wins as the No. 3 overall seed entering March Madness.The Boilermakers are putting last year's second-ever 16-over-1 seed defeat behind them, back in the Final Four for the first time since 1980.

See every 2024 NCAA tournament result from Purdue below:

Purdue and NC State have met 6 times in the two storied programs' histories. NC State leads the all-time series 4-2, with the first meeting coming in 1971.

Here's a look at all of the prior meetings