NC State 72, High Point 53. The lead was the first quarter. A 20-0 run made it 27-8, and six of the 12 steals were already in. The Pack finished with 26 points off High Point’s 18 turnovers and 18 fast-break points to 5. High Point took the second quarter, 17-11, and the fourth was 15-14. The 19-point final is that first quarter, kept.

The number that will not travel is the three. NC State went 8-of-29, 27.6 percent. The press bailed out a cold perimeter against an exhibition opponent. It will not bail it out against NCAA tournament teams. That is the priority before the next one.

Khamil Pierre was why the cold stretch did not give the game back. Nineteen points on 8-of-14, 12 boards, five steals, one turnover, in 23 minutes. Qadence Samuels was the exception from deep: blank in the first half, 4-of-5 in the third, 3-of-8 from three for 11. Zoe Brooks and Desiree Wooten, the two guards asked to finish what the press started, went 2-of-18 and 0-of-8 from three. Brooks had 8 points in 28 minutes. Wooten played 31 and did not score. The steals were fine. The finishing was not. That also will not travel.

Brooks’s foot was not the miss. She looked great getting out and changing direction, first public night back, and the ball still ran through her. The shot just was not there. Annsley Trivette was the other body who looked ready, 8 points on 4-of-6 in nine minutes. Kamora Pruitt never checked in. Moore said she is working back from an injury and was not ready. No scout on her tonight.