NC State closed its public exhibition slate with a 75-40 win over UNCW Saturday at Reynolds Coliseum. The Pack led 38-13 at the half and never let the Seahawks closer than that after the opening minutes. Quarters went 17-7, 21-6, 17-12, and 20-15. Attendance was 1,200.

UNC Wilmington came out and got after the Pack defensively. “They got in the passing lanes, pressured the ball, and sometimes we handled it okay, other times we didn’t,” Wes Moore said. “But it was good for us to experience that. We have spurts, we have flashes. We’ve got to try to put 40 minutes together.” He pointed to the same list he has been carrying since High Point: shoot the ball better, take care of the ball better, and limit second-chance opportunities. At the half, more than half of UNCW’s points had come off second chances. The Pack finished with 54 points in the paint and 20 points off turnovers, but went only 2-of-10 from three.

Khamil Pierre led it with 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting and six rebounds in 25 minutes. She was asked if she already felt in mid-season form. “Yeah, I would say I’m just focused on playing my game,” Pierre said. “I think just doing all the little things. I’m sure my game will come and be better and better.” Qadence Samuels added eight points and a team-high 10 rebounds in 31 minutes. She has made rebounding a goal. “I did get rebounds last year, but I feel like I barely did. So one of my goals is to get every rebound, every game.” Khady Leye had 11 points and seven boards.

Zoe Brooks played only 9:31 after tweaking her hip earlier in the week. Moore said they did not want to overdo it. Desiree Wooten played 31 minutes and scored three on 1-of-10. Kamora Pruitt got her first public exhibition minutes and finished with five points, including one of three from three. Moore said she is capable of knocking them down, but still has to learn the other end. Annsley Trivette had four points and six assists in 15 minutes. Both Samuels and Pierre said the younger players already look comfortable.

Moore called the night encouraging in spots and unfinished in others. “We’ve played mid-major and top schools this year, and part of that was half our team is new and we wanted to give them time to get minutes,” he said. “I’ve seen moments, but we’re going to have to put together 40 minutes to compete at the level we want to compete at. So we got a lot of work to do.” The Pack has one week before a game that counts.