Photos: NC State falls to Creighton in the NCAA basketball tournament

See photos from NC State’s 72-63 loss to Creighton in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023.

The Wolfpack (23-10) came in as the No. 11 seed, an underdog to the Bluejays (21-12), the No. 6 seed in the NCAA South Region.

The game featured a matchup between the team’s big men, State’s D.J. Burns, Jr. vs. Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner.

Kalkbrenner finished with a career high 31 points.

Check back after the game for more images.

N.C. State’s Terquavion Smith (0) heads to the basket past Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Terquavion Smith (0) heads to the basket past Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Terquavion Smith (0) reacts after fouling Creighton during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Terquavion Smith (0) reacts after fouling Creighton during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Casey Morsell (14) drives to the basket past Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Casey Morsell (14) drives to the basket past Creighton’s Trey Alexander (23) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s D.J. Burns Jr. (30) works against Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s D.J. Burns Jr. (30) works against Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Jack Clark (5) defends Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Jack Clark (5) defends Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Terquavion Smith (0) shoots as Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) defends during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Terquavion Smith (0) shoots as Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (11) defends during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Breon Pass (10) defends Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard (2) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State’s Breon Pass (10) defends Creighton’s Ryan Nembhard (2) during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts yells to his players during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts yells to his players during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
Fans cheer the Wolfpack during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com
Fans cheer the Wolfpack during the first half of N.C. State’s game against Creighton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Ball Arena in Denver, Colo., Friday, March 17, 2023. Ethan Hyman/ehyman@newsobserver.com