RALEIGH, N.C. — In a decisive victory, Jayden Taylor led N.C. State to an impressive 89-63 win against Rider on Sunday, contributing a solid 16 points to the team’s performance.

Taylor showcased his shooting skills, hitting five of his seven attempts, including three from beyond the three-point line, and converting three out of five free throws. This win improved the Wolfpack’s record to 8-4 and maintained their strong performance at home with an 8-1 record.

Alongside Taylor, Ben Middlebrooks and bench player Breon Pass both scored twelve points. Marcus Hill also made his mark, finishing the game with 11 points and six assists.

On the opposing side, T.J. Weeks Jr. and Jay Alvarez each led the Broncs with 17 points, but Rider struggled defensively throughout the game, particularly in the first half, where they fell significantly behind.

In the first half, NC State dominated the court, with Taylor and Hill contributing 11 and 10 points respectively, helping the team boast a shooting percentage of 64.3%. As the half concluded, NC State held a commanding lead at 52-23. On the other hand, Rider managed only to score 12 points from Weeks, as they struggled with their shooting, converting just 9 of 32 attempts and hitting only 1 of 9 from the three-point range, trailing by 29 points at one stage.

The second half saw contributions from eleven different players on the Wolfpack roster, illustrating the team’s depth and versatility.

Throughout the match, NC State capitalized on Rider’s 14 turnovers, scoring 18 points off them. Additionally, they dominated in the paint, outscoring Rider 40-28 while keeping their own turnovers to a minimum with just seven.

Looking ahead, NC State will be taking a break before facing Virginia in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, Rider will not return to action until January 5, when they host Manhattan.