Raleigh, N.C. — In a commanding performance on Friday night, Marcus Hill led NC State to a decisive 81-58 victory over William & Mary, contributing 19 points. Brandon Huntley-Hatfield played a crucial role as well, finishing the game with 10 points and nine rebounds. This win marks NC State’s best start to a season with a 5-0 record since the 2018-19 season, when they opened with six consecutive victories. The Wolfpack’s previous game saw them triumph over Colgate, securing a 72-49 win, which was notable for being the first time the team held their opponent under 50 points since December 9, 2021.

NC State made a strong impression from the onset, scoring 15 straight points in the early minutes of the first half. They maintained a comfortable lead throughout, finishing the first half with a score of 43-24, and holding onto a double-digit advantage for the final 10 minutes of the game.

Despite a valiant effort by Noah Collier, who scored seven consecutive points to narrow the gap to 59-52, NC State responded powerfully. Hill ignited a 9-0 scoring run, increasing the lead once again. Another efficient run, featuring five points from Dontrez Styles, pushed the score to 77-54, underscoring NC State’s control of the game.

Joining Hill in the scoring, Jayden Taylor and Styles each added 12 points to the total, while Ben Middlebrooks contributed 11. Notably, Styles was particularly effective during the second half, adding 10 points as NC State shot an impressive 54% overall.

On the opposing side, Collier was a standout for William & Mary, netting 25 points. Gabe Dorsey supported him with 13 points, but the Tribe’s performance was hindered by 21 turnovers, which allowed NC State to capitalize with 29 points off those mistakes.

Looking ahead, NC State will face No. 6 Purdue on Thursday at the Rady Children’s Invitational in San Diego, while William & Mary will take on Appalachian State this Sunday.