VIDEO of NC State’s Kevin Keatts, Wolfpack at ACC Tipoff
NC State basketball’s Kevin Keatts, Michael O’Connell, Jayden Taylor were at ACC Tipoff on Wednesday in Charlotte. Here’s video of their interviews.
RALEIGH — N.C. State basketball got a look at its retooled roster Wednesday against Division II Lees-McRae in the Wolfpack’s lone exhibition game ahead of the 2024-25 season.
It was a nerve-wracking opener for N.C. State, which had to fight to the finish against the feisty Bobcats to earn a 79-75 win at the Lenovo Center. The Wolfpack had a 21-point lead early in the second half before Lees-McRae flipped the script and tied the game with just over three minutes left.
N.C. State used a 7-0 spurt, including five free throws, to create separation down the stretch. The Wolfpack had 19 turnovers and 12 assists, and was outscored 42-36 in paint points.
But, as head coach Kevin Keatts noted in his postgame press conference, the Wolfpack had a 10-point exhibition win against Mount Olive last season before ending the year with a magical postseason run.
The Wolfpack, which won the ACC Tournament before a run to the Final Four last season, returns lead guards Michael O’Connell and Jayden Taylor to surround eight newcomers.
Keatts added several players via the transfer portal, including former UNC wing Dontrez Styles and Louisville transfer Brandon Huntley-Hatfield. Bowling Green transfer Marcus Hill joined O’Connell, Taylor, Styles and Huntley-Hatfield in the starting lineup against the Bobcats.
Sophomore forward Dennis Parker Jr. and Louisville transfer Mike James were sidelined with injuries.
Ahead of its season opener against USC Upstate on Nov. 4 (7 p.m., ACC Network Extra), N.C. State will unveil a pair of banners at the Lenovo Center as a permanent reminder of the success experienced in the 2024 postseason.
Here are some observations from N.C. State’s exhibition against Lees-McRae.
Who is going to be NC State basketball’s go-to scorer?
Two seasons ago, N.C. State had Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith. Last season, the Wolfpack had DJ Burns and DJ Horne. When the 2024-25 Wolfpack needs a bucket, which player will it turn to? With the game tied at 69 and three minutes left in the game, N.C. State turned to senior guards Jayden Taylor and Marcus Hill. That duo keyed a 7-0 spurt to help the Pack avoid the upset. Taylor knocked down a free throw with 9.9 seconds left to make it a four-point game.
Jayden Taylor keeps filling stat sheet for Wolfpack
Taylor continues to do a little bit of everything for the Wolfpack, filling up the stat sheet as a playmaker on both ends of the court. Despite missing five of his six shots in the first half, Taylor had four points to go with five rebounds, three assists and two steals in 15 minutes. He finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Michael O’Connel starts night with 3-pointer, remains steady at point
Graduate guard Michael O’Connell, whose 3-pointer against Virginia at the 2024 ACC Tournament kept the Wolfpack’s season alive, fittingly started the exhibition with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He also had three free throws and grabbed three rebounds. O’Connell, who finished with seven points and six rebounds, and Taylor will remain vital pieces for the Pack.
Former UNC wing Dontrez Styles makes debut for Wolfpack
Georgetown transfer Dontrez Styles, who played two seasons at North Carolina before joining the Hoyas, had seven points and three rebounds in the first half. Styles missed four of his first five shots, but got to the free-throw line, where he was 5-for-6 in the first 20 minutes. Foul trouble plagued Styles, who had four fouls, but he finished with nine points and eight rebounds.
Breon Pass provides spark for Wolfpack off bench
Breon Pass, a senior reserve for the Wolfpack, provided a spark in the first half and finished with nine points off the bench. Pass also had two rebounds and two steals as N.C. State’s top option off the bench. With his experience in the program, Pass has a chance to play a key role this season.
Staff writer Rodd Baxley can be reached at rbaxley@fayobserver.com or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.
