Instant observations: No. 9 NC State races past SMU, claims No. 1 seed in ACC Tournament

The ACC was ready to present the regular season championship trophy to then-No. 1 Notre Dame when the Irish visited Reynolds Coliseum two weeks ago. While it appeared like the nation’s top team was on its way to becoming the first in league history to go 18-0, NC State had other plans.  The Pack downed the Irish, which delayed that celebration. It also opened the door for NC State to claim at least a share of the regular season title with a chance of earning the top seed in next week’s ACC Tournament.  NC State, however, needed the chips to fall in the right direction. It had help as Florida State handed Notre Dame its second straight loss on Thursday, which meant all the Wolfpack needed to do was win its regular season finale to go to Greensboro as the top squad in the league.  And, well, that’s exactly what the ninth-ranked Wolfpack did in a 69-45 win over the Mustangs, the last-place team in the ACC standings, on Sunday afternoon at the Moody Coliseum in Dallas.  NC State earned its seventh regular season championship in program history with the victory as the Wolfpack has now won 20 of its last 22 games heading into the postseason with its sights set on its fourth tournament title in five years.  “Everybody called us party-crashers last year. I guess we’re party-crashers again,” NC State senior guard Saniya Rivers said after the Pack delayed the Irish’s trophy celebration. “We’re here to stay, we’re here to fight, and we’re hoping to cut down some nets this season.” Senior guard Aziaha James and sophomore guard Zoe Brooks led the Wolfpack with 19 points each, while senior guard Madison Hayes added 18 points and 11 rebounds. Rivers chipped in with a double-double as she logged 13 rebounds and 11 assists. Here are three observations from NC State’s dominant win.