NC State Advances to Round of 32 Despite Injury to Star Guard

Wolfpack defeat Tennessee 76-61 but lose Zoe Brooks to ankle injury

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:18am

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The NC State Wolfpack defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 76-61 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, but suffered a major blow when star guard Zoe Brooks went down with an ankle injury in the third quarter. Despite Brooks' absence, sophomore guard Zamareya Jones stepped up with a dominant 30-point performance to lead the Wolfpack to victory. The win sets up a Round of 32 matchup against No. 2 seed Michigan, but the status of Brooks remains uncertain.

Why it matters

NC State was one of the top teams in the ACC this season and had high hopes of making a deep NCAA Tournament run. The injury to Brooks, who was averaging over 15 points per game, is a major setback that could derail those aspirations if she is unable to return. The Wolfpack will need to embrace the "chaos" and rely on other players like Jones to step up if they want to advance further in the tournament.

The details

With the Wolfpack leading by seven points in the third quarter, Brooks went up for a floater and came down hard, wincing in pain. She had to be helped off the court and was unable to put any weight on her right foot. Brooks had 8 points, 1 rebound and 1 steal before the injury. In her absence, freshman Ky'She Lunan and sophomore Zam Jones had to take on more responsibility against Tennessee's full-court pressure. Jones responded with a dominant 30-point, 3-assist, 3-rebound, 5-steal performance to lead NC State to the victory.

  • The Wolfpack and Volunteers previously met in the season opener back in November, with NC State winning by 3 points.
  • The injury to Zoe Brooks occurred about halfway through the third quarter, with NC State leading by 7 points.

The players

Zoe Brooks

A junior guard for NC State who was averaging over 15 points per game this season. She went down with an ankle injury in the third quarter of the first round NCAA Tournament game against Tennessee.

Zamareya Jones

A sophomore guard for NC State who stepped up with a dominant 30-point, 5-steal performance to lead the Wolfpack to victory after Brooks' injury.

Wes Moore

The head coach of the NC State Wolfpack, who will need to guide his team through the chaos of Brooks' injury as they advance to the Round of 32.

Kim Caldwell

The head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, whose team's frenetic full-court pressure caused problems for NC State before Brooks' injury.

Khamil Pierre

The star forward for NC State who helped the team lean on its post presence after Brooks went down with injury.

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What they’re saying

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— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.