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RALEIGH (AP) — Mark Gottfried couldn't ask for much more from his N.C. State players to start his tenure.

Richard Howell had a career-high 25 points to help the Wolfpack beat Morehead State 91-61 on Sunday, giving Gottfried a 2-0 start with the program.

DeShawn Painter also had a career-high with 19 points in a dominating offensive performance for N.C. State, which has started the year with two relatively easy wins against teams that reached the NCAA tournament last season. So far, Gottfried's big guys are playing well inside, his guards are pushing the tempo and his entire team is willing to share the ball and play defense.

"We've got to get better in a lot of areas," Gottfried said. "But I like the fact we're playing the game the right way."

Scott Wood had 18 points and hit five 3-pointers in the opening 20 minutes as the Wolfpack shot 61 percent with an offense that moved the ball crisply and avoided turnovers.

N.C. State's players could also point to a tangible improvement from Friday's opening win against UNC Asheville. The Wolfpack jumped to a quick double-digit lead in that one and led by as many as 19 points late in the first half, but N.C. State couldn't keep the pressure on after halftime in the 84-75 win.

Against the Eagles (0-1), N.C. State followed another fast start with the kind of effort that kept the margin climbing from tip to horn.

"We definitely feel comfortable," Howell said. "I think the type of players we have, it fits us perfect. We're very tall, we're very athletic and we're very quick. For us to play like that and get up and down the floor, it favors us."

The Wolfpack led 48-30 at halftime and pushed that margin to as many as 36 points late in the game. N.C. State finished with 26 assists on 33 field goals, with five players tallying at least three assists.

"Both games our guys have really shared it," Gottfried said. "Rarely are we taking a really tough shot that's ill-advised or poor shot selection."

The Wolfpack played for the second straight time without sophomore forward C.J. Leslie and freshman forward Thomas de Thaey, with Leslie sitting out three games for receiving improper benefits while de Thaey is out indefinitely while the school reviews the Belgium native's eligibility from overseas. But Howell and Painter more than made up for their absence inside.

Howell, a 6-foot-8 junior who shed 20 pounds in the offseason, had 14 points and 15 rebounds against UNC Asheville in Friday's opener. He followed that by going 11-for-13 from the field and pulling down eight rebounds against Morehead State.

Painter, a 6-9 junior, had 12 points and 12 rebounds in the opener and managed to put together consecutive double-figure scoring games for only the second time in his career. He also had a perfect shooting night, making all six of his shots from the field and all seven free throws.

"I guess it's a really good offense that kind of fits my game," Painter said. "Coach has really been hard on me to play well. He's saying, 'We need you to play well.' We've got guys that are out right now and I'm just trying to step it up."

Terrance Hill had 14 points to lead the Eagles, who shot 40 percent and never figured a way to slow down N.C. State. N.C. State had assists on 19 of its first 20 baskets and had made 25 of 37 shots (67.6 percent) by midway through the second half before cooling off late.

Morehead State coach Donnie Tyndall said much of his team's trouble came when defenders kept leaving Wood open on the perimeter early. He knocked down his first 3 from the left corner about 20 seconds into the game, and those shots opened things up for Howell and Painter inside.

"They're just a bigger, better, more physical, tougher, much, much better team," Tyndall said.

The game is part of the Legends Classic. N.C. State faces Princeton on Wednesday in the event's Raleigh schedule, then travels to East Rutherford, N.J., to face No. 7 Vanderbilt in the semifinals.

MOREHEAD STATE (0-1)

Kelly 2-10 1-2 5, Hill 5-9 0-0 14, Proffitt 2-7 5-6 9, Warner 1-4 3-6 5, Chavis 2-4 3-4 8, Owens 0-0 0-0 0, Holden 2-4 0-0 6, Bailey 0-0 1-2 1, Mathieu 2-3 0-0 4, Austin 1-2 0-0 3, Atkinson 1-3 0-0 2, Percell 0-0 1-2 1, Ferguson 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 19-47 15-24 61.

N.C. STATE (2-0)

Painter 6-6 7-7 19, Howell 11-13 3-5 25, Brown 2-4 1-3 5, Wood 5-8 3-3 18, Williams 4-7 0-0 9, Johnson 1-5 3-4 6, Raymond 0-1 0-0 0, Vandenberg 0-0 0-0 0, Smith 1-1 0-0 2, Battle 1-3 0-0 3, Harris 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 33-54 17-22 91.

Halftime—N.C. State 48-30.

Percentages—Morehead State (FG .404, FT .625), N.C. State (FG .611, FT .773).

3-point goals—Morehead State 8-15 (Hill 4-5, Holden 2-2, Chavis 1-1, Austin 1-2, Kelly 0-1, Warner 0-1, Proffitt 0-3), N.C. State 8-23 (Wood 5-8, Williams 1-3, Battle 1-3, Johnson 1-4, Raymond 0-1, Brown 0-2, Harris 0-2). Fouled Out—Chavis.

Rebounds—Morehead State 23 (Kelly, Warner 3), N.C. State 34 (Howell 8).

Team rebounds—Morehead State 5, N.C. State 4.

Assists—Morehead State 9 (Proffitt 4), N.C. State 26 (Brown 6).

Blocked shots—Morehead State 0, N.C. State 6 (Vandenberg 3, Howell 2, Wood).

Turnovers—Morehead State 16 (Kelly 3, Mathieu 3, Austin 3, Chavis 2, Hill 2, Holden, Bailey, Proffitt), N.C. State 12 (Harris 3, Brown 2, Wood 2, Howell 2, Painter 2, Raymond).

Steals—Morehead State 6 (Ferguson 2, Chavis 2, Warner, Holden), N.C. State 4 (Johnson 2, Wood, Brown).

Total fouls—Morehead State 22, N.C. State 20.

Officials—Guy Pagano, Tom Courtney, Andrew Maira.

A—10,082.