"Duke's March Madness Hopes Dashed by Upset to NC State in ACC Tournament Opener"

NC State upset second-seeded Duke 74-69 in the ACC tournament, ending Duke's pursuit of back-to-back championships and potentially impacting their NCAA tournament seeding. Duke's offensive struggles and NC State's strong performance, including a 5-of-11 shooting from the 3-point line, contributed to the upset. Despite a late rally, Duke never secured a lead in the second half. NC State's DJ Horne played a key role in the win, scoring 12 points in the first half and making crucial free throws in the final seconds.