NC State and Purdue will play one another for the 5th time on Saturday night in the Final Four, in a series that dates back to 1971-72. Heading into the game, NC State leads the series 4-2.
The first time NC State and Purdue faced each other on the hardwood, the two played in Reynolds Coliseum, with the 20th ranked Wolfpack defeating the Boilermakers 84-71. Tommy Burleson led all scorers with 24 points.
Two years later, #3 NC State went to Purdue, and walked out with an 86-81 victory. The Wolfpack trailed by 7 with 4:31 left on the clock.