Boilermakers end Wolfpack's Cinderella run in Final Four, 63-50

By Joseph Ochoa, WRAL multiplatform producer

North Carolina State Wolfpack	50
3Purdue Boilermakers	63
Final

The Purdue Boilermakers defeated NC State Wolfpack 63-50 in the first Final Four game of the NCAA Tournament in Phoenix, advancing to Monday's national championship game.

The Boilermakers (34-4, 17-3) went on a 12-1 run over a five-minute stretch in the second half, which gave Purdue its largest lead of the night and ultimately sealed the Wolfpack's (26-15, 9-11) fate.

This is the Boilermakers' first appearance in the national title game for the first time since 1969. In that game, the Boilermakers were defeated by John Wooden and the UCLA Bruins 92-72.

"They played a really good game, It's a really good basketball team," Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts said.

DJ Horne led the Wolfpack in scoring with 20 points, but the rest of the offense struggled. Mohamed Diarra, Casey Morsell and Ben Middlebrooks combined for 4 points in the game and DJ Burns finished with eight points.

"I think one of our biggest differences is some of the shots we normally make, we didn't make in the game," Keatts said. "Certainly [it] kind of got away from us a little bit."

Numerous shots that went the Wolfpack's way leading up to the game were not falling, with some rimming in and out before falling into the hands of a Purdue defender.

"I think it was just one of those days where the ball wasn't bouncing our way," Horne said. "Looking back at it, I can't really remember everything that went on in the game. Off the top of my head, I know we didn't make shots at a high clip."

Despite the shots not falling, the Wolfpack kept Purdue's offense in check for most of the game, forcing a combined 10 turnovers from Zach Edey and Braden Smith.

"A lot of it had to do with NC State. I think they're a good defensive team," Purdue head coach Matt Painter said. "I think they put a lot of pressure on the basketball, they make it tough on you."

The Wolfpack made a concerted effort to stick a hand out when Edey had the ball. Edey finished with five turnovers after he finished the year with 2.2 turnovers per game.

Edey had eight turnovers combined in the Boilermakers' first four tournament games.

"They threw a lot of different looks at me," Edey said. "That led to some bad offensive possessions for us."

'We have a story'

The Wolfpack’s run to the Final Four was nothing short of a miracle. The Wolfpack entered the ACC Tournament at 17-14 and needed to win five games in five days just to reach the big dance.

Not only did the Wolfpack win the ACC Tournament, securing the conference automatic bid and likely Keatts’ job in the process, but the Wolfpack rattled off four wins in the NCAA Tournament, including against in-state rival Duke in the Elite Eight on Easter Sunday.

"Look at what this team was able to accomplish. I sit back [and] I just don't know how you can win nine elimination games," Keatts reflected.

Burns powered the Wolfpack's improbable run through the tournament, averaging 18.25 points per game during the first four games of tournament and becoming a national sensation.

"Just to be a part of this has been everything I could have asked for," Burns said. "But, man, this has been an experience like no other,"

With most of the team's starting five in their final years, Keatts remained hopeful the Wolfpack's run will inspire others to join the program going forward.

"We have a story. When your in any sport, you want to have a story," Keatts said. "I hope people understand that we have a heck of a basketball program. We play a unique style [and] we've got a great culture...I think the run will help."

Purdue now joins the Virginia Cavaliers as the only teams to reach the title game after losing to a 16-seed in the previous year's tournament.

Purdue will play the winner of the UConn Huskies and Alabama Crimson Tide on Monday at 9:20 p.m. on TBS.