NC State pulled away from Liberty 71-47 at Reynolds, but it was not a clean performance. Zoe Brooks was unavailable, the Pack had trouble finding a consistent offensive rhythm against Liberty’s zone, and free-throw shooting was ugly. What saved the night was defense that created 27 points off Liberty’s 21 turnovers, Khamil Pierre’s production, and a pair of true freshmen who gave the Pack the spark it needed in the second half.

1. If you don’t want to envision an NC State team without Zoe Brooks, don’t watch the replay. The Pack struggled from the onset without its star point guard. Chemistry looked off and the half-court was a grind against Liberty’s zone. Without Brooks creating and keeping the defense honest, possessions bogged down more than they have in previous games, and the Pack never fully settled into the flow Moore wants.

2. After two quick fouls, Ky’She Lunan sat for most of the first half. When she returned, she hit a needed three and finished with nine points and three steals. With Brooks out, the Pack needs Lunan on the floor as much as possible. Her length and activity help fill some of the gap, and the offense looked more functional once she was back in the rotation.

3. Free-throw shooting was horrendous. NC State went 10-of-24 from the line. There are no real excuses for that in a game the Pack still won by 24. Those misses kept Liberty closer longer than they should have been, and they will not be sustainable against better competition.

4. Khamil Pierre continues to carry this team offensively. She finished with 19 points on 8-of-19 shooting in 35 minutes and was the most consistent scoring option when the half-court stalled. The question going forward is who will give her consistent help. When Brooks is out or limited, someone else has to create or finish so the load does not sit entirely on Pierre.

5. Khady Leye got put in Coach Moore’s doghouse in the first half after not going after a rolling ball in the backcourt. Moore responded by inserting Annsley Trivette, and the freshman brought instant energy. Leye still finished with 10 points in 19 minutes, but the message about effort was clear.

6. When the offense ain’t working, play hard on defense. Coach Moore preaches this, and it showed up in the numbers. The Pack forced 21 Liberty turnovers and turned them into 27 points. The half-court was choppy against the zone, but the pressure and activity on the defensive end kept generating the transition chances that produced the Pack’s best offense.

7. Let’s talk about the Class of 2026. Annsley Trivette and Kamora Pruitt showed why they were recruited by NC State. Both stepped up as true freshmen. Trivette played 19 minutes, scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, and grabbed seven rebounds. After she came in, she sparked the offense with her rebounding, hard play, and a couple of quick buckets. Pruitt scored nine points and made three threes in the fourth quarter that helped put Liberty away. It is a bit unusual for a Wes Moore team to lean on true freshmen this early, but both gave the Pack something it needed when the offense was searching.