Instant observations: No. 16 NC State upset by Rhode Island after sloppy performance

Although NC State played three top-20 opponents in its first five games, it was able to handle the pair of mid-majors mixed in that brutal schedule that arrived at Reynolds Coliseum with two double-digit wins. But as Rhode Island, a team voted to finish fourth in the Atlantic 10 preseason poll, visited Raleigh, things took a turn. Instead of posting yet another blowout win over an undersized team, NC State found itself in a back-and-forth tilt with the Rams. And, for the first time this season, the Wolfpack wasn't able to withstand its faults against a mid-major squad with a 68-63 loss to Rhode Island on Sunday afternoon in Raleigh. Sophomore guard Zamareya Jones led the Pack with 17 points, while junior forward Khamil Pierre added 14 point and eight rebounds, and sophomore forward Tilda Trygger chipped in with 8 points and seven rebounds. The team, overall, shot 43.1 percent from the field, including a 7-of-19 mark from 3-point distance. Here are TheWolfpacker.com’s observations from the upset loss.