Jayden Taylor scored 16 points to lead North Carolina State to a convincing 89-63 victory against visiting Rider on Sunday in Raleigh, N.C.
The Wolfpack found high-quality shots throughout the game on the way to shooting 55.8 percent from the field. They had 21 assists on 29 field goals.
Ben Middlebrooks and reserve Breon Pass both scored 12 points and Marcus Hill added 11 points and six assists for NC State (8-4), which was in its final nonconference game. The Wolfpack also feasted on free throws, outscoring the Broncs 24-11 at the foul line.
T.J. Weeks Jr., who made 10 free throws, and Jay Alvarez, who had eight rebounds and two steals, scored 17 points apiece for Rider (4-9), which lost its seventh game in a row. The Broncs shot 4-for-16 on 3-point attempts.
NC State’s defense contributed to Rider’s shooting woes. Middlebrooks was credited with three of the Wolfpack’s five blocked shots.
An 8-0 run for the Wolfpack and an early Rider timeout were just a sampling of what was to come. Later in the first half, NC State put together a 23-2 stretch.
NC State, which lost four of its previous six games, made 12 of its first 16 shots from the field. In the first half, nine Wolfpack players were in the scoring column. It was 52-23 at halftime.
Rider was more productive after the break, eclipsing 23 in the second half with seven minutes left in the game.
NC State had nearly a six-minute stretch in the second half without a field goal, but the Wolfpack made six free throws during that span.
Taylor, who scored in double figures for only the second time in a five-game stretch, had three of NC State’s seven 3-point baskets.
Rider finished with 14 turnovers — twice as many as NC State.
The Wolfpack, which improved to 8-1 in home games, have won all three all-time meetings with Rider.
–Field Level Media
