Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
NC State

Aziaha James injury update: NC State guard carried off floor in ACC Tournament championship vs. Duke

Barkley-Truaxby:Barkley Truax•03/09/25•

BarkleyTruax

Aziaha James
Nov 10, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; NC State Wolfpack guard Aziaha James (10) handles the ball against South Carolina Gamecocks guard Bree Hall (23) during the second half at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

NC State star Aziaha James had to be carried off the court in the final minute of the first half of the ACC Championship game against Duke. James appeared to suffer any injury while driving along the baseline.

Driving against Duke’s Oluchi Okananwa, James hit the deck after stepping out of bounds. She was tended to by Wolfpack athletic training staff, and after putting weight on her lower body for a moment and trying to walk it off, was carried off the court.

The broadcast cut to James heading to the locker room with the training staff, and she was in a wheelchair. Before an injury update could be given, James was back on the court when the third quarter started.

They’re happy to have her back, as losing her would have been a massive blow for NC State, as James is their leading scorer averaging 17.9 points per game this season. The Wolfpack led the Blue Devils 36-29 at halftime.

As the top seed in the ACC Tournament this season, NC State only had to win two games to make it to the championship game. They defeated Georgia Tech in the quarterfinals before defeating North Carolina in the semifinals.

Duke had a similar path to NC State, earning a double-bye into the quarterfinals as a top-four seed in the conference. They defeated Louisville in their first game before upsetting No. 2-seed Notre Dame and Hannah Hidalgo in the semifinals.

NC State enters Sunday seeking its eighth ACC Tournament championship, while the Blue Devils have the opportunity to win its ninth conference tournament title. This would tie the Tar Heels for second in conference history, only trailing the Maryland Terrapins (10).

NC State defeats UNC in ACC semifinals

NC State got off to a hot start and never looked back in the Semifinals against North Carolina on Saturday. The Wolfpack led by 11 at the end of the first quarter, and they kept more than enough distance between themselves and the Tar Heels throughout the afternoon.

Aziaha James led the way with 19 points, and the top-seed in the ACC Tournament is on to the finale. They’ll await the winner of No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 3 Duke, with that game taking place shortly after this one in Greensboro. As for the Tar Heels, they’ll turn into spectators, as Indya Nivar’s 13 points weren’t enough to get the job done.