Raleigh, N.C. — Time and again, a North Carolina State player turned down an open shot, choosing instead to pass the ball to an open teammate.
"I'm just really proud of them, because they did it the right way," Wolfpack coach Herb Sendek said. "We all kind of like ourselves, and it's commendable when you have people willing to share."
Julius Hodge led a balanced attack with 21 points, and No. 19 N.C. State jumped on New Orleans early in a 92-58 victory Wednesday night in the first round of the BCA Invitational.
Jordan Collins scored a career-high 17 points, Engin Atsur had 14, and four other players finished with at least eight.
"We shared the ball tonight like never before," said Tony Bethel, who joined Hodge with a game-high six assists. "We made the extra pass. Guys were passing up good shots to get a great one."
N.C. State advanced to the second round and will play Elon, which beat Fairleigh Dickinson, 73-59.
The Wolfpack made their first five shots and scored the first 11 points, never giving the Privateers and coach Monte Towe a chance. Towe starred at N.C. State during the 1970s, leading a team that included David Thompson and Tommy Burleson to the 1974 NCAA championship.
Thompson and Burleson sat behind the scorer's table for this one, watching as their former teammate tried in vain to keep New Orleans in the game. The Privateers had more turnovers than baskets well into the second half, and they even resorted to running down the shot clock.
North Carolina State's Engin Atsur (14) tries to pass to teammate Julius Hodge (24) after stealing a possession from New Orleans' Todd Bostic in the second half of the Wolfpack's 92-58 rout. N.C. State won the BCA Invitational game Wednesday at the RBC Center in Raleigh, N.C
Nothing helped, mostly because the Wolfpack were too good. After Collins started the scoring with two free throws, Bethel and Levi Watkins each made two three-pointers. Collins added a three-point play, and N.C. State didn't miss until Hodge's first shot about 51/2 minutes into the game.
"This has been a highlight for me, to bring my team in here to Raleigh," Towe said. "I have to give North Carolina State all the credit in the world. I've always thought Herb Sendek has done a great job, and he'll continue to do so if everybody keeps supporting him."
Atsur had four threes -- all in the first half -- as the Wolfpack made 11 of 28 from beyond the arc. They had 80 points with well over 10 minutes left, thanks to that unselfish style of play that included 24 assists.
Bo McCalebb led New Orleans with 21 points, the team's only player in double figures.
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