NC State opened its preseason with a 72–53 exhibition win over High Point on Thursday night at Reynolds Coliseum, but the margin hid a night the Wolfpack treated more like film study than a statement.

The Pack led 27–8 after one quarter, built on a 20–0 run and six of its 12 steals. It scored 26 points off High Point’s 18 turnovers and finished with an 18–5 edge in fast-break points. That start was exactly what Wes Moore wanted to see. “Really pleased with the start,” he said. “In the first quarter we came out with a lot of energy, forced some turnovers, and made defensive plays that led to easy buckets.”

High Point then outscored NC State 17–11 in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 38–25 at halftime. The Panthers went zone, knocked down shots, and got a dominant glass game from Woodard, who finished with 17 points and 18 rebounds. Moore did not dress that up. “We allowed Woodard to have an unbelievable game,” he said. “We’re going to have to find a way to defend better than that.” NC State still outrebounded High Point 53–46, but the second-chance points were even at 20 apiece.

Khady Leye, in her first game in a Wolfpack uniform, had 12 of her points before the break and said the dip was self-inflicted. “We probably just got comfortable,” she said. “We came out really hot. We weren’t letting them score. I think we kind of started to rush ourselves. But I think it also shows how good we can be.”

Qadence Samuels was scoreless in the first half, then scored all 11 of her points in the third quarter on 4-of-5 shooting, including 3-of-3 from three, as NC State closed the period on a 14–2 run and led 58–38. Moore said it was good to see her knock down shots the team will need. The Pack shot 27-of-76 overall (36 percent) and 8-of-29 from three (28 percent), and Moore said the ball moved too much around the perimeter once High Point zoned. “When we attacked, we didn’t make good decisions,” he said. “We either took a bad shot or got too deep and they were able to double us.”

Khamil Pierre led the way with 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting, 12 rebounds and five steals in 23 minutes, with only one turnover. She was not satisfied. “Just trying to be a better version of myself than I was last season,” Pierre said. “I still didn’t shoot the ball well at all.” Moore’s answer was that Pierre can put up numbers and still leave meat on the bone, and that the little things — boxing out, finishing rotations — have to catch up to the stat line. “We let Woodard go get 18 rebounds,” he said. “That’s scary to think we let that happen against a mid-major program, and we’re going to see a whole lot tougher down the road.”

Leye finished with 12 points on 4-of-11 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three, plus four rebounds and two steals. Ky’She Lunan added 11 points, four rebounds and two steals in the starting five with Pierre, Leye, Samuels and Zoe Brooks. Brooks had eight points, four rebounds and three assists. Freshman Annsley Trivette scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting in nine minutes. Moore called her blue-collar and said the staff is looking for effort while she learns. All 11 available players checked in. The Wolfpack’s biggest lead was 24.

Moore called the night an ugly one and said he was not sure it was theirs yet. “Hopefully we were just babysitting and we’ll have a better version of our own,” he said. He also told the team to check egos at the door for film. NC State’s next public exhibition is Saturday, Oct. 24, against UNC Wilmington at Reynolds Coliseum. Moore said he hopes freshman Kamora, who is doing non-contact work, will be back by then.