Wake Forest puts strong ACC start up against Virginia Tech

While visiting Wake Forest has won four games in a row, Virginia Tech has created a recent stir as well as the teams get set to meet Saturday afternoon at Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech rose to the occasion with a sterling comeback earlier this week, overcoming North Carolina State 79-76 on Wednesday to secure its third victory in its last four games.

"We're coming on and I'm really proud to see it and excited for what lies ahead," Hokies coach Mike Young said.

The Demon Deacons (13-4, 5-1 ACC) have built their winning streak with four consecutive double-digit victories. It is the first time Wake Forest has started ACC play 5-1 or better since the 1996-97 team started 9-1.

Virginia Tech (8-9, 3-3) has earned its last three victories by a combined seven points. A second-half rally from 15 points down with 13:29 remaining and down 12 with 6:38 left Wednesday against NC State might have been the most impressive.

"Our team sometimes isn't very pretty," Young said. "Grit toughness, determination, hustle. ... I think I saw them grow up a little bit."

Virginia Tech's Tobi Lawal has reached the 20-point mark three times this season, with a pair of 22-point outings across the past four games. He 34-for-49 (69.4 percent) from the field in the last six games.

Lawal has scored at least 15 points in five of the Hokies' six ACC games.

He might have to score at a rapid clip to keep up with Wake Forest's Hunter Sallis, who scored 30 points in Wednesday night's 80-67 home victory against Stanford. Sallis, who played all 40 minutes, has tallied at least 20 points in six consecutive games.

"Obviously, Hunter is on a heater right now," Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes said.

There's more to what Sallis is doing for the offense than racking up large point totals. He's creating avenues for teammates to be productive as well.

"It's not just him shooting it, it's about drawing attention," Forbes said. "Creating spacing and opportunities for everybody else because he's drawing attention."

Tre'von Spillers went 8-for-10 against Stanford with 18 points, making him at 22 of 28 (78.6 percent) across the past three games combined.

Young said he expects to have guard Ben Hammond back in the Virginia Tech starting lineup after a three-game injury absence.

--Field Level Media