Jericole Hellems used hot early shooting on the way to 31 points as North Carolina State defeated visiting Louisiana Tech 90-81 on Saturday afternoon in Raleigh, N.C.

Hellems shot 10-for-19 from the field, including 6-for-8 on 3-pointers.

Casey Morsell and Cam Hayes each added 14 points and Dereon Seabron and Ebenezer Dowuona both had 10 points for the Wolfpack (5-1), which shot 51.6 percent from the field and committed only six turnovers.

Kenneth Lofton Jr. pumped in 36 points on 14-for-19 shooting from the field and 8-for-11 on free throws for Louisiana Tech (4-2). Loftin also grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds. Kaleb Stewart added 10 points.

It wasn't until less than nine minutes remained in the game that a player other than Hellems and Lofton had reached a double-figure point total.

Louisiana Tech stayed within range with Keaston Willis' two free throws at the 3:19 mark cutting the gap to 77-69. Morsell responded with a 3-pointer for the Wolfpack.

Hellems racked up 21 first-half points, but Louisiana Tech made a rally to pull within 35-31 as the Wolfpack went nearly four minutes without scoring.

Baskets from Hayes, Seabron and Jaylon Gibson helped NC State replenish its advantage in what became a 41-33 halftime score.

At the game's midway mark, Hellems was 5-for-7 on 3s. The rest of the players in the game were a combined 4-for-18 from long range.

Lofton had 13 points at halftime. NC State was 1-for-4 on first-half free throws, with none of the team's starters with an attempt from the foul line.

Hellems had a pair of 3-point baskets in the game's opening two minutes. He had 16 of the Wolfpack's 27 points as they led by 12 less than 10 minutes into the game.

By then, Louisiana Tech had committed six turnovers and NC State had yet to be charged with a giveaway.

--Field Level Media