Sports

Photos: NC State defeats Texas Tech in first round NCAA Tournament action

By Kaitlin McKeown

Updated March 22, 2024 3:06 AM

N.C. State’s DJ Horne drives against Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Horne drives against Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

The N.C. State Wolfpack defeated the Red Raiders of Texas Tech 80-67 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Pittsburgh, late Thursday night, March 21, 2024.

The Wolfpack, fresh off of its five wins in five days ACC Tournament championship, led 37-33 at the half behind strong play from Ben Middlebrooks and DJ Horne.

Middlebrooks finished with 22 points to lead the Pack.

N.C. State’s Ernest Ross, center, acknowledges Wolfpack fans while watching Oakland vs. Kentucky with teammates during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Ernest Ross, center, acknowledges Wolfpack fans while watching Oakland vs. Kentucky with teammates during the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Burns Jr. gets a high-five from a young Kentucky fan prior to the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Burns Jr. gets a high-five from a young Kentucky fan prior to the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s KJ Keatts dunks prior to the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s KJ Keatts dunks prior to the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game against Texas Tech on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Jayden Taylor and Mohamed Diarra pressure Texas Tech’s Joe Toussaint during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Jayden Taylor and Mohamed Diarra pressure Texas Tech’s Joe Toussaint during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts gives instructions from the sidelines during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts gives instructions from the sidelines during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Horne puts up a shot over Texas Tech’s Warren Washington during the first half of the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Horne puts up a shot over Texas Tech’s Warren Washington during the first half of the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Casey Morsell drives to the basket past Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams during the first half of the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Casey Morsell drives to the basket past Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams during the first half of the Wolfpack’s first round NCAA Tournament game on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra and Michael O’Connell tangle with Texas Tech’s Joe Toussaint during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra and Michael O’Connell tangle with Texas Tech’s Joe Toussaint during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Horne reacts after being charged with a foul during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Horne reacts after being charged with a foul during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State fans cheer during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State fans cheer during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra slams in two during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra slams in two during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Horne reacts after drawing a foul during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Horne reacts after drawing a foul during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams and N.C. State’s Ben Middlebrooks battle for a rebound during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — Texas Tech’s Darrion Williams and N.C. State’s Ben Middlebrooks battle for a rebound during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Ben Middlebrooks reacts after drawing a foul during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa — N.C. State’s Ben Middlebrooks reacts after drawing a foul during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Burns Jr. puts up a shot over Texas Tech’s Robert Jennings during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Burns Jr. puts up a shot over Texas Tech’s Robert Jennings during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Horne drives to the basket past Texas Tech’s Warren Washington during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Horne drives to the basket past Texas Tech’s Warren Washington during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s DJ Horne reacts after a made basket during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s DJ Horne reacts after a made basket during the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Texas Tech’s Joe Toussaint and N.C. State’s Casey Morsell collide during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — Texas Tech’s Joe Toussaint and N.C. State’s Casey Morsell collide during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra pulls down a rebound over Texas Tech’s Kerwin Walton during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra pulls down a rebound over Texas Tech’s Kerwin Walton during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra reacts after dunking the ball during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State’s Mohamed Diarra reacts after dunking the ball during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

The N.C. State bench reacts late in the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa — The N.C. State bench reacts late in the second half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts receives a hug following the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. — N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts receives a hug following the Wolfpack’s 80-67 win over Texas Tech in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pa. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

This story was originally published March 22, 2024 at 1:05 AM with the headline "Photos: NC State defeats Texas Tech in first round NCAA Tournament action."