RALEIGH, N.C. — In an exciting college basketball matchup, NC State emerged victorious over Presbyterian with a score of 81-72 on Friday evening.
Jayden Taylor led the Wolfpack with an impressive 19 points, while Ben Middlebrooks contributed significantly to the team’s performance with 16 points.
Michael O’Connell also had a strong game, recording 11 points and eight assists, and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield added 11 points and grabbed six rebounds.

The game featured a pivotal moment for the Wolfpack, which outscored the Blue Hose 10-4 during a crucial stretch in the second half.
This burst allowed NC State to increase their eight-point lead to 65-51, with just 9 ½ minutes remaining in the contest.
Although Presbyterian attempted to close the gap, cutting the lead down to 67-58 with just under seven minutes left, Middlebrooks quickly responded with consecutive fast-break dunks, extending the advantage back to 73-58.

NC State maintained a double-digit lead for most of the second half, until Kory Mincy from Presbyterian made two free throws in the final minutes for the game’s last points.

In the first half, Taylor was a key contributor for the Wolfpack, leading with 13 points. Despite never trailing in the game, NC State managed to secure only a modest 38-30 lead at halftime, struggling to score in the final two minutes of the first period.

On the opposing side, Mincy shone for the Blue Hose, scoring a remarkable 28 points, including 4-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc.
Koby Steward was another player to watch for Presbyterian, adding 20 points to their total.

Overall, it was a solid performance by NC State, improving their record to 2-0, while Presbyterian fell to 1-1 on the season.