NC State Downs Mount Olive in Exhibition Game

RALEIGH, N.C. – Guard Casey Morsell scored 14 points to lead the North Carolina State Wolfpack to an 89-79 victory over the Mount Olive Trojans in the PNC Arena.

The Wolfpack had nine different players score in the first half.  

NC State opened the scoring for the game on a DJ Horne layup to get ahead 2-0.

After the opening basket, NC State continued to extend its lead and never trailed in the first half after a 28-12 start.  

NC State stayed consistent on defense and held Mount Olive to only six points in the last three minutes heading into halftime.

At halftime, NC State led Mount Olive 44-24. The Wolfpack were led in the first half by guard Jayden Taylor, who finished the half with eight points and two rebounds. For the Trojans, forward Darrel Johnson led the way in the first half with seven points and one rebound.

To start the second half, the Trojans, trying to cut their deficit, challenged the Wolfpack, coming out scoring back-to-back field goals from guards Shane Peterson and Trey Nelson. 

NC State was led statistically by guard Casey Morsell, who finished with 14 points and five rebounds. Both forward DJ Burns Jr. and Jayden Taylor finished with 13 points. DJ Horne chipped in 12 points while Dennis Parker Jr added eight points and seven rebounds to the stat sheet. 

Mt. Olive was led by Redford Dunton who finished the game with 14 points. 

The Wolfpack spent most of the night shuffling lineups. Head coach Kevin Keatts mentioned after the game that he told his players “to not try to figure out what I am doing,” when it came to the lineups.

NC State will officially start their 2023-24 season on Monday, Nov. 6 hosting The Citadel at 7:00 p.m. EST in the PNC Arena.