Purdue outlasts NC State, advances to NCAA title game

After being knocked out by No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson a year ago, Zach Edey and company showed that this isn't last year's team, overcoming a sluggish outing to earn a hard-fought win on the big stage. 

Despite leading by as many as 12 points, the Boilermakers nursed a six-point advantage at the half, 35-29. Edey got his, going into the break with 14 points. But starting guards Lance Jones, Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith struggled, combining for only 12 points, with three coming from Loyer with nine seconds to go. Meanwhile, 11 turnovers from the Boilermakers allowed the Wolfpack to hang around. 

However, the game's turning point came early in the second half. Purdue came out flat, even going scoreless for roughly four minutes. Nevertheless, NC State could not capitalize, going 1-of-10 from the field over the first eight minutes. 

NC State cut the deficit to seven, but Purdue got hot to seal things. Leading 49-42 with 8:04 left, the Boilermakers went on a 14-1 run to secure their spot in the NCAA title game. 

In the win, Edey recorded his fifth outing of 20 or more points and 10 or more rebounds during the tournament. Finishing with 20 points and 12 boards, the senior is averaging 26 points and 15 rebounds per game with one left to go. 

Despite a valiant fight, NC State's incredible run is over. Following nine straight wins to reach the Final Four, the Wolfpack ran out of steam against Purdue. Perhaps the six days between games, their most extended layoff since beginning the miraculous stretch, had an impact. Though, it's much more realistic to assume that they simply ran into a better team. 

Meanwhile, Purdue's pursuit of the program's first national championship continues. This is only the Boilermakers' second and first trip to the finals since 1969 when they fell to the future Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and UCLA.