Sidney Lowe's North Carolina State Wolfpack is off to a 2-0 start after an 85-65 drubbing of East Carolina, Thursday in the first round of the Charleston (S.C.) Classic.

The Wolfpack, with a roster full of experienced contributors and promising youngsters, is expected to take a step up in the ACC this year. They looked deep, balanced and unselfish against East Carolina.

North Carolina State led by 12 at half and put the Pirates away with an 25-4 run to start the second half. Freshman guard Lorenzo Brown led the Wolfpack with 16 points and seven rebounds. Five players scored in double digits, and NC State had 20 assists to East Carolina's 7.

With the win, the Wolfpack advance to Friday's second round and will face the winner of the nightcap between George Mason and Charlotte.

East Carolina (2-1) falls into the losers bracket, where the Pirates will get the loser of the Georgia Mason-Charlotte contest.Corvonn Gaines led the Pirates with 12 points, and Robert Sampson and Brock Young each added 10.