One thing you’ll never be able to say about a Kevin Keatts NC State team is that it didn’t fight—NC State fought hard all the way to the end, but ultimately, Creighton was just better. Not a lot better, but better enough.
Terquavion Smith scored 32 points in his final game in a Wolfpack uniform, and he was 11-22 inside the arc, but the Pack just did not get enough offense elsewhere to bring this game home. Jarkel Joiner was 5-18 from the field, and DJ Burns was rendered a non-factor. All due credit to Creighton for that.