Instant observations: NC State drops Thanksgiving bout with No. 13 Purdue

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Nov 18, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield (1) shoots a three pointer during first half of the game against the Colgate Raiders at Lenovo Center. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Through NC State’s first five games, the Wolfpack hadn’t seen the level of competition it would face the rest of the season. That changed with a bout against No. 13 Purdue in the Rady Children’s Invitational on Thursday afternoon. And, well, the Pack has some work to do against stiffer competition. The Boilermakers blitzed the Wolfpack 71-61 in a rematch of last year’s Final Four battle on the campus of UC-San Diego. Senior guard Jayden Taylor had a team-best 15 points, while senior forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield logged 13 points to lead the Pack. NC State was outscored 38-27 in the second half after it was down 1 at halftime. Here are three observations from the Wolfpack’s first loss of the season.