Raleigh, NC – A 16-0 run over the last five minutes was enough to make a single-digit game look like a runaway victory as the veteran-led Wake Forest Demon Deacons ran away from the NC State Wolfpack 69-51 – collecting their 20th win on the season.
The Wolfpack got on the board first before an 8-0 run from Wake Forest (20-5, 10-4 ACC) made the score 8-2 before Cole Hellems ended the run with a pullup jumper. Terquavion Smith got in on the action with back-to-back threes to tie the game at 10-10 with 14:58 remaining in the first half.
The game would be tied for the third time as Hellems tied the score at 14-14 with a corner three just before the under 12 media timeout. Neither team could get much separation with Wake holding a 21-18 lead with eight minutes left in the opening half.
The Deacs found a slight groove on offense, extending their lead to 27-20 with 5:13 remaining – forcing a quick Wolfpack timeout. Baskets inside from Smith and Dereon Seabron sliced the NC State (10-15, 3-11 ACC) deficit to four just before the final media timeout of the half. The Deacs lead would grow slightly as they went into the break ahead 31-28.
Wake opened the half by pushing their lead back to seven with 16:00 left before a dunk inside from Jaylon Gibson. The Deacs kept a stronghold on the game, leading 43-36 with 11:18 remaining in regulation. The Wolfpack made a run with the help of a Seabron three-point play that cut the Wake Forest lead to 43-41 with just over 10 minutes left. Seabron kept the pressure going, evening the game at 45-45 with a layup at the 9:03 mark – forcing Steve Forbes to call a quick timeout.
Wake Forest responded to go ahead four on two different occasions before State made it a one-possession game twice. The Deacs had an answer for every punch thrown as a 5-0 run extended Wake’s lead to 58-51 with 3:56 left. Wake continued its run pushing their lead to 64-51 with just over two minutes left with the dagger coming from a corner three from Khadim Sy.
The Deacs closed the game out on a 16-0 run over the last 4:58 of the contest to come away with the 69-51 win.
Next up the Wolfpack will travel to Pitt to take on the Panthers Saturday. The Deacs will host Miami that same day.