NC State Basketball: Wolfpack offense struggles in close call in exhibition win

There are just a few days left before the start of the 2024-25 season, which has included hundreds of exhibition games and scrimmages. As always, there are some intriguing results in the process, including upsets to programs outside of the D-I ranks. Buffalo, Detroit Mercy, and Hampton were mid-majors who suffered exhibition losses, with a high-major opponent nearly suffering the same fate.

NC State was handling D-II foe Lees-McRae at halftime, up by 19 points. However, the underdogs scored 50 points in the second half and made a big run to tie the game at 69 with just a few minutes to go. In the end, the Wolfpack was the better team at the end, holding on for the 79-75 win.

The game didn't count toward NC State's resume, so even if they lost, it wouldn't have been the end of the world. But simply for PR purposes, avoiding being the only high-major team to lose to a non-DI opponent is ideal. Especially for Coach Kevin Keatts, who just got off the hot seat after the program's ACC Tournament and Final Four run last season.

Still, there were some concerns that showed in that game. Giving up 50 points in the second half to anyone isn't good, particularly a clearly inferior foe. There's also the offense, in which only one player scored in double figures on the night. And that was Jayden Taylor, the team's returning leading scorer, who finished with 12 points on 2/11 FG shooting.

In fairness to NC State, the minutes were fairly spread out with the entire team outside of Taylor and there was balanced scoring, with 10 different players scoring 6+ points. Yet shooting 39% from the field and 4/20 from three-point range isn't a hopeful sign for a team that lost three double-digit scorers from last season, including star guard, DJ Horne.

The Wolfpack is going to be a team to watch in the ACC, seeing if the momentum from last March can carry over, or if the roster may be overrated heading into the season. At least it won't be coming off a loss.