Instant observations: NC State squeaks past Davidson

NC State’s offense didn’t look cohesive against Davidson. There are a lot of ways to dive into it, but the Pack’s lack of ball movement and 1-on-1 drives nearly doomed the 22nd-ranked squad in a mid-week showdown with the preseason fourth-best team in the Atlantic 10. The Pack, which had one assist through the first 30 minutes, relied on tough takes and contested jumpers for most of the night in the 59-57 win over the Wildcats on Wednesday night at Reynolds Coliseum.  NC State's fourth-quarter defensive pressure forced three critical turnovers down the stretch, which the Pack used to go on a 6-0 run to have breathing room to secure the victory. The Wolfpack, as a team, shot just 33.3% from the floor, while it struggled to make more than consecutive baskets at a consistent clip from the second quarter on. Davidson, meanwhile, turned in a 34.4% shooting mark, including 10 made 3-pointers. Senior guard Saniya Rivers led the Pack with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Aziaha James added 21 and Madison Hayes chipped in with 7 more.  Here are three observations from NC State’s win over Davidson.