No. 6 North Carolina State 97, Miami (Ohio) 59: Richard Howell recorded 16 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Rodney Purvis added 16 points as the sixth-ranked Wolfpack cruised to victory in the season opener for both teams.

Howell, who connected on his first five shots from the field, scored eight of his 12 first-half points during a pivotal 14-4 run to give North Carolina State (1-0) a 41-22 lead at halftime.

Lorenzo Brown had 15 points and a team-high seven assists and ACC preseason player of the year C.J. Leslie added 11 points as the Wolfpack outscored the RedHawks 31-17 to start the second half.

Ten players for North Carolina State found the scoresheet as the Wolfpack shot a sizzling 61 percent from the field.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Wolfpack connected on 17 of 26 first-half shots for a sizzling 65.4 percent. Conversely, the RedHawks shot 7-of-32 (21.9 percent). ... N.C. State's ranking is the program's best since also seizing sixth in December 1983. ... The RedHawks have dropped 21 consecutive games to ranked opponents.