WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest Demon Deacons opened the new year with an impressive 77-59 victory over the NC State Wolfpack at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum on January 4, 2025. This win improved Wake Forest's season record to 11-4 and allowed them to maintain their undefeated 8-0 home record, showcasing their effectiveness on both ends of the court.
From the start, Wake Forest displayed dominance, led by standout performances from Hunter Sallis and freshman Juke Harris. Sallis scored a game-high 20 points and was instrumental as the Deacs took the early lead. The team quickly responded after NC State initially held the lead at 3-2 with guard Michael O'Connell’s three-pointer. Immediately after, Wake Forest embarked on a stunning 17-1 run, extending their lead to 19-4 within just seven minutes of play.
Wake's offense continued to efficiently score, eventually pushing their lead to double digits by the end of the first half at 38-32. Strong defensive plays kept the pressure on NC State, illustrated by senior Tre'Von Spillers' four blocks. Coach Steve Forbes praised his team, stating, "We played outstanding defense the entire game. Tre'Von Spillers had four blocks and it seemed like he had more than than." This defensive focus was key, as Wake Forest managed to restrict NC State to just 33% shooting in the second half.
After halftime, NC State attempted to recover, scoring the first four points and drawing within two at 38-36, but the momentum quickly swung back to Wake Forest. The Deacons launched another dominating streak, this time scoring 12 points to widen the gap to 57-43. The consistent pressure prevented NC State from ever closing the gap to single digits for the remainder of the game.
Juke Harris, coming off the bench, marked his career high with 17 points, highlighting his growing role within the team. He was particularly effective, going 6-of-8 from the field. Coach Forbes highlighted Harris's strong practice performance leading up to the game, stating, "The way he has been practicing has been great. He drove, he cut, played the two, and played with balance."
Sallis and Harris were complemented by Tre'Von Spillers, who added 12 points to the scoreline. Collectively, Wake Forest shot 54.9% from the field for the game, showcasing their offensive prowess—especially during the second half where they shot 58%.
On the other side, NC State's effort was led by senior Marcus Hill, who scored 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting. Despite this, the Wolfpack struggled with cohesive offense and plagued issues persisted, as noted by Coach Kevin Keatts. He expressed frustration about the team's lack of consistency, highlighting the need for improvement, especially during crunch time. "For whatever reason, the ball sticks in the second half but we're trying to run more sets..." Keatts elaborated. This inconsistency may prove detrimental as the season progresses and they contend for NCAA Tournament eligibility.
Looking to the future, NC State will host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on January 8, 2025, with hopes of breaking their current slump. They are under pressure to improve with just three Quad 1 games remaining this season. Meanwhile, Wake Forest prepares for their next matchup against the Miami Hurricanes on January 11,2025, maintaining momentum after another strong home performance.
The efficient display of basketball from the Deacons underlines their aims this season, marked by potent offense and solid defense. Conversely, the Wolfpack must address their struggles if they aspire to contend within the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) effectively.