GREENSBORO, N.C. (WNCN/AP) — In their first time meeting this season, two Triangle-area college basketball teams are playing for the ACC tourney trophy.
The No. 7 NC State Wolfpack will face the No. 11 Duke Blue Devils in an ACC Championship that has bragging rights on the line between two neighboring counties.
Sunday’s meeting is the first of the season for the squads, as the two did not meet in the regular season. The game begins at 1 p.m.
The Wolfpack have gone 18-2 against ACC teams, with an 8-3 record in non-conference play. NC State averages 77.3 points and has outscored opponents by 12.2 points per game.
The Blue Devils are 16-4 in the ACC. Duke ranks eighth in the conference, shooting 33.7% from 3-point range.
Duke’s ACC tournament run has looked like a revenge tour of sorts, where their past two wins have been against teams they’ve lost to in the regular season, including the 5-point win Saturday against Notre Dame in the semifinals. To make the victory sweeter, if the Blue Devils beat NC State on Sunday, they will earn their first ACC title in 12 years.
Meanwhile, NC State avenged their regular season loss against UNC 66-55 in their semifinal matchup. This is the fifth time in six seasons that the Wolfpack has battled for the ACC title. Last year, they lost by 4 points to Notre Dame.