RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – Wes Moore admitted being a bit nervous for how North Carolina State might manage the emotions of playing for the final time on its home court.
Instead, the top-seeded Wolfpack used the moment to offer one last impressive show to the fans on the way to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16.
Kayla Jones scored 18 points to help top-seeded N.C. State beat Kansas State 89-57 in Monday’s second round, earning a fourth straight trip to the tournament’s second weekend.
Raina Perez and Diamond Johnson each added 15 points for the Wolfpack (31-3), who used a dominating second-quarter performance to earn a 12th straight win. N.C. State shot 55% and made 9 of 19 3-pointers, romping to a 35-point lead at one point in an emotional finale at Reynolds Coliseum.
“I think they just go out and play,” Moore said. “They love playing the game and they play so well together and they just get lost in the moment, and don’t think too much.”