RALEIGH - N.C. State, which serves as the host school of the Raleigh subregional that is under way at the RBC Center through Sunday, harbors greater ambitions not only on the court but also as an NCAA Tournament site.

NCSU, which did not make the tournament this year, will bid to host first- and second-round games again in 2010 and 2011.

N.C. State athletic director Lee Fowler said Friday that the school wants to land a regional semifinal and final. It helps that the opening rounds also were held in Raleigh in 2004 and that the RBC Center will host a women's regional next year, he said.

"Each time we always put in for both," Fowler said of the bids for the opening rounds and the regionals. "Because [NCAA officials] like to share the wealth, you've got to stay involved in the process all the time.

N.C. State also bid for a 2008 regional but got the opening rounds again.

ROGER VAN DER HORST

CURRY'S BIG DAY: Davidson's Stephen Curry played like a one-man team in the Wildcats' 82-76 win over Gonzaga on Friday at the RBC Center. Curry finished with almost half of Davidson's total points, 40, but his effort as good or better than two teams in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Curry outscored Mississippi Valley State, which finished with 29 points in a loss to UCLA, and equaled Winthrop's team total in the Eagles' loss to Notre Dame.

The sophomore guard scored 30 of his points in the second half, which was better than four teams managed in 20 minutes -- Kent State (10), Winthrop (11), Cornell (17), and Mississippi Valley State (16 and 13).

J.P. GIGLIO