WORCESTER, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- Earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the fourth straight season, North Carolina State will look to overcome its low seed when it faces Charlotte in a first-round matchup in the Syracuse Region on Friday.

Despite finishing 7-9 in league play, the Wolfpack earned a spot in the field of 65 teams after advancing to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament semifinals with victories over Florida State and Wake Forest. Receiving its second-lowest seed in school history at No. 10, North Carolina State will look to reverse its 1-4 mark in the NCAAs when seeded eighth or lower.

North Carolina State will attempt to snap that losing trend against intrastate foe Charlotte in their first meeting in 4 1/2 years. Despite having a 5-2 record all time against the 49ers, the Wolfpack lost the last matchup, 95-78, in Raleigh on November 18, 2000.

Senior forward Julius Hodge, the ACC's 2004 Player of the Year, will look cap his collegiate career by reaching the second round for the third time in his four trips to the "Big Dance." If NC State can advance, it will probably face second-seed and defending national champion Connecticut.

Just 10 points shy of reaching 2,000 for his career, Hodge broke out a a three-game slump in the ACC tournament, averaging 15.7 points on 51.4 percent (18-of-35) shooting and handing out 5.0 assists. Sharpshooter Ilian Evtimov has also been on a roll as of late, scoring 15.3 points with nearly four 3-pointers over his last six games.

On the other hand, Charlotte is limping into the NCAAs with three straight losses. The 49ers, who were ranked as high as No.

18 in February, have struggled on the defensive end, giving up 87 points per game over their slump.

Charlotte, which is making its fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in the last five years, is led by forward Curtis Withers. Withers scored 18.1 points and pulled down 8.3 rebounds this season to earn Conference USA first-team honors.

Senior forward Eddie Basden, a defensive dynamo, received both the league player of the year and defensive player of the year awards this season and guard Brenden Plavich finished first in the nation with four 3-pointers per game.

The trio have combined to score 47 points this season for the 49ers, who are 14-2 when scoring 80 or more this season.