DAYTON, Ohio >> Two missed shots, two quick fouls. T.J. Warren’s second chance at the NCAA Tournament didn’t start well at all.

It ended with the ACC’s player of the year putting on a show.

The hard-to-guard sophomore forward scored 16 of his 25 points in the second half on Tuesday and North Carolina State led most of the way in a 74-59 victory over Xavier in the NCAA Tournament’s First Four.

N.C. State (22-12) didn’t have much time to celebrate. The 12th-seeded Wolfpack headed to the airport for a two-hour flight to Orlando, Fla., and a game on Thursday against St. Louis in the Midwest Regional.

Warren had the most to do with it. He made up for a freshman tournament flop on the same floor a year earlier and prevented Xavier (21-14) from getting any traction in the second half.

ALBANY 71, MOUNT ST. MARY’S 64

D.J. Evans scored 22 points, including two clinching free throws with 12.6 seconds left, to lead the Great Danes (19-14) past The Mount (16-17) and on to a matchup with top-seeded Florida on Thursday.

NIT

FLORIDA STATE 58, FLORIDA GULF COAST 53

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. >> Aaron Thomas scored 22 points as the Seminoles (20-13) beat the Eagles (22-13).

GEORGETOWN 77, WEST VIRGINIA 65

WASHINGTON >> D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera had a season-high 32 points and 10 rebounds, and the Hoyas (18-14) topped the Mountaineers (17-16).

BELMONT 80, GREEN BAY 65

ASHWAUBENON, Wis. >> Craig Bradshaw scored a career-high 25 points and Drew Winkler added 15 as the Bruins (25-9) beat the Phoenix (24-7).

MINNESOTA 88, HIGH POINT 81

MINNEAPOLIS >> Maverick Ahanmisi scored a career-high 21 points, leading the Golden Gophers (21-13) past the Panthers (16-15).

CLEMSON 78, GEORGIA STATE 66

CLEMSON, S.C. >> K.J. McDaniels tied his career high with 30 points and had 14 rebounds as the Tigers (21-12) defeated the Panthers (25-9).

ARKANSAS 91, INDIANA STATE 71

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. >> Anthlon Bell scored 28 points as the Razorbacks (22-11) pulled away from the Sycamores (23-11).

MISSOURI 85, DAVIDSON 77

COLUMBIA, Mo. >> Jabari Brown scored 30 points and Earnest Ross added 16 to help the Tigers (23-11) hold off the Wildcats (20-13).

ROBERT MORRIS 89, ST. JOHN’S 79

NEW YORK >> Karvel Anderson scored 38 points and Lucky Jones added 25 to help the Colonials (22-13) beat the Red Storm (21-13). 

SAINT MARY’S 70, UTAH 58

MORAGA, Calif. >> Kerry Carter scored 10 points over the final 5 minutes and the Gaels (23-11) rallied from 10 points down in the second half to beat the Utes (21-12).