DALLAS — N.C. State just won’t go away, will it? The Wolfpack just refuses to go home.

The Pack started playing elite basketball in Washington. D.C., winning the ACC championship, and has taken it on the road in the NCAA Tournament.

And keeps winning.

The Wolfpack, seeded 11th in the Southern Regional, turned back No. 2 seed Marquette on Friday, taking a 67-58 victory at American Airlines Center.

That leaves the Pack — has it now become “America’s team”? — one win away from its first Final Four since 1983, when N.C. State won its second national championship. The Wolfpack (25-14) will face Houston or Duke in the regional final, N.C. State’s first since 1986.

No NCAA win comes easily and this one didn’t. D.J. Horne had 19 points, making some clutch second-half shots. Casey Morsell had 15 points, and some big baskets of his own, while Mohamed Diarra again was so vital, with 11 points and 15 rebounds.

The Golden Eagles (27-10) trailed nearly the entire game. Kam Jones had 20 points and Tyler Kolek 17, but the Pack worked hard to limit the damage.

The Pack led by 13 at halftime and by as many as 16 early in the second half. But with both teams playing defense that was much like hand-to-hand combat, open looks were hard to find and every pass contested.

The Golden Eagles were within 48-38, its cheering contingent loud, and had nearly forced a shot-clock violation before D.J. Horne knocked down an off-balance 3-pointer.

Diarra, so active around the boards, then scored on a put-back and the lead was 51-38.

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