Wake Forest wants better execution, seeks marquee win vs. NC State

Field Level Media|published: Fri 30th January, 17:48 2026

NCAA Basketball: Virginia Tech at Wake Forest

Jan 3, 2026; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA;Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward Omaha Biliew (0) with a slam dunk against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Wake Forest might be running out of time to secure notable wins, so the Demon Deacons will want to take advantage of North Carolina State's visit Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, N.C.

NC State (15-6, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) has put together a three-game winning streak for its best eight-game record in ACC play in 20 years.

"My thoughts are we should be 7-1, so I'm not really pleased with 6-2," Wolfpack coach Will Wade said. "We should be 7-1, not 6-2, but I guess it's good. ... We have to strive for a little bit higher and better than that."

Wake Forest (11-10, 2-6) just needs any sort of momentum after losing three straight games.

"We have to execute better," said coach Steve Forbes, whose team fell 80-76 in overtime at Pitt on Tuesday night.

NC State used a big second half for an 88-68 home victory against Syracuse on Tuesday. Forward Darrion Williams reached the 20-point mark for the third time in the last six games by scoring 23.

"Made my first few shots so that just got me going a little bit," said Williams, who's providing a team-high 14.4 points per game.

Having Williams on track helps NC State's offense flow in many ways.

"It's easy also being a point guard because when he is this good of a player it takes so much attention away from me," guard Quadir Copeland said. "People have their eyes on him, so it makes everything so much easier for all of us."

NC State notched a 70-57 home victory vs. Wake Forest on Dec. 31. Copeland had 14 points and Ven-Allen Lubin notched a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) for the Wolfpack in that game.

Omaha Biliew's 18 points led Wake Forest in the first meeting.

Wake Forest had its best rebounding numbers of the season from Cooper Schwieger (11) and Isaac Carr (nine) in the Pitt game. But Nate Calmese went out with an apparent ankle injury and was seen on crutches. He'll be out indefinitely, so that will alter the rotation.

"I don't know how long he'll be out," Forbes said. "Everybody else has got to step up."

Saturday's starting time has been moved up nearly four hours to a noon tip-off because of concerns about a winter storm.

--Field Level Media

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