Wake Forest outlasts Virginia Tech for fifth straight win

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th January, 16:47 2025

Dec 31, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Steve Forbes reacts to a call against the Syracuse Orange during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Hunter Sallis scored 24 points and Wake Forest fended off a challenge from host Virginia Tech, winning its fifth game in a row with a 72-63 decision Saturday afternoon at Blacksburg, Va.

Cameron Hildreth had 21 points, while Sallis grabbed seven rebounds and tallied two steals as the Demon Deacons (14-4, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) picked up their third conference road victory of the season.

Sallis, who has scored at least 20 points in seven consecutive games, shot 10-for-17 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range.

Jaden Schutt led Virginia Tech (8-10, 3-4) with 12 points off the bench. Mylyjael Poteat notched 11 points and Tobi Lawal and reserve Brandon Rechsteiner both posted 10 points. Lawal pulled in 12 rebounds as the Hokies lost for the second time in five games.

Virginia Tech shot 40.4 percent from the field, and Shutt made half of the team's six 3-point baskets. The Hokies committed 14 turnovers compared to seven for Wake Forest.

The Demon Deacons were 6-for-19 on 3-pointers and 14-for-17 on free throws.

Virginia Tech held its only leads of the game in the first five-plus minutes of the second half. The Hokies went ahead for the first time at 32-31 on Schutt's four-point play to begin the half and retook the lead at 43-41 on Lawal's 3-pointer with 15:15 remaining.

Wake Forest kept Virginia Tech scoreless for the next 3:57 to go ahead by six. Juke Harris' jumper gave the Demon Deacons a 65-58 lead with 2:24 to go.

The Hokies hung around, getting a free throw from Lawal and a bucket from Poteat to close within four. Hildreth then sank two free throws and Sallis drove for a basket to make it 69-61 with 29 seconds left to help Wake Forest close it out.

The Demon Deacons went up by 10 in the first half on Efton Reid III's second 3-point basket of the game and third of the season. Those were Reid's only six points of the game.

Sallis scored 10 points to help Wake Forest build a 31-29 halftime lead.

The Demon Deacons survived a rough outing from Tre'Von Spillers, who scored all five of his points in the second half and shot 2-for-9 from the field for the game.

--Field Level Media

Latest