College Basketball Roundup: Hellems, Seabron lead NC State over Wake Forest

Elon and UNCG also earned wins; WCU, App State and NC A&T all lost

NC State forward DJ Funderburk shoots against Wake Forest during the Wolfpack's win Saturday in Winston-Salem. (Andrew Dye / The Winston-Salem Journal via AP)

WINSTON-SALEM — Jericole Hellems and Dereon Seabron each scored 14 points and a balanced offensive attack sent NC State to an 80-62 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday, sweeping the season series.

The win was also a rare third straight conference road win for NC State, which last accomplished the feat winning its final two road games of the 2002-03 season and first of the 2003-04 campaign.

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Eight players scored for the Wolfpack (10-9, 6-8 Atlantic Coast Conference) with five reaching double figures. Cam Hayes and DJ Funderburk scored 11 each, Hayes with three 3-pointers, five assists and three steals. Braxton Beverly scored 10.

Seabron added nine rebounds and four steals as the Wolfpack edged Wake Forest on the boards 33-32 and forced 19 Demon Deacons turnovers with 11 steals. NC State outscored Wake Forest 28-5 in points off turnovers.

Ian DuBose led Wake Forest (6-11, 3-11) with 14 points. Isaiah Mucius and Daivien Williamson added 11 each. The Deacons shot 41% (22 of 54).

Wake Forest battled the Wolfpack to a 14-14 tie through the first seven-plus minutes, but Hayes hit consecutive 3-pointers and NC State was off on a 13-4 run over the next 2:34.

The Wolfpack led 27-18 with just under nine minutes left of the first half and extended the lead to 51-35 by the break. NC State was 52% shooting in the first 20 minutes, making 6 of 10 from beyond the arc.

NC State is at Virginia on Wednesday. The Wolfpack lost 64-57 to then-No. 14 Virginia on Feb. 3. Wake Forest wraps up a three-game homestand when Clemson visits on Wednesday.

Elon 75, William & Mary 54

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Darius Burford had a career-high 27 points as Elon easily defeated William & Mary 75-54 on Saturday.

Ikenna Ndugba added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Phoenix (5-8, 2-7 Colonial Athletic Association). Ndugba also had eight rebounds. Michael Graham had four blocks for Elon.

Elon dominated the first half and led 44-23 at the break. The Phoenix’s 44 points in the first half were a season best for the team.

Connor Kochera had 20 points for the Tribe (6-8, 4-5). Ben Wight added eight rebounds and three blocks.

Luke Loewe, whose 17 points per game heading into the contest led the Tribe, had 5 points on 2-of-11 shooting.

UNC Greensboro 60, Chattanooga 55

GREENSBORO — Isaiah Miller recorded 12 points and 11 rebounds to lead UNC Greensboro to a 60-55 win over Chattanooga on Saturday.

Mohammed Abdulsalam had 15 points and seven rebounds for UNC Greensboro (16-7, 11-4 Southern Conference), which earned its fifth straight home victory. Keyshaun Langley added 11 points.

Chattanooga scored 21 points in the second half, a season low for the team.

Malachi Smith had 16 points and eight rebounds for the Mocs (18-6, 9-6), whose six-game win streak ended with the loss. KC Hankton added 13 points. David Jean-Baptiste had 11 points.

The Spartans improve to 2-0 against the Mocs on the season. UNC Greensboro defeated Chattanooga 74-66 on Jan. 23.

Wofford 80, Western Carolina 56

CULLOWHEE — Morgan Safford had 14 points to lead five Wofford players in double figures as the Terriers easily beat Western Carolina 80-56 on Saturday.

Sam Godwin added 12 points for the Terriers and Messiah Jones, Tray Hollowell and Storm Murphy each scored 11.

Wofford (14-8, 11-5 Southern Conference) distributed a season-high 23 assists on 33-made field goals.

Cory Hightower scored a career-high 26 points for the Catamounts (9-14, 2-12) and Sin’Cere McMahon added 13 points.

The Terriers also beat Western Carolina 91-78 on Jan. 23.

Florida A&M 71, NC A&T 57

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — DJ Jones had 12 points to lead five Florida A&M players in double figures as the Rattlers beat North Carolina A&T 71-57 on Saturday.

Jalen Speer and Evins Desir added 11 points apiece for the Rattlers. Trejan Davis and Bryce Moragne chipped in 10 points each. Desir also had four assists, while Davis posted eight rebounds.

Florida A&M (5-8, 4-2 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) posted a season-high 20 assists. Meanwhile, the Aggies’ 28.8 field goal percentage represented the worst mark by a Florida A&M opponent this season.

Tyler Maye had six rebounds for the Aggies (8-10, 4-1), whose five-game win streak ended with the loss. Fred Cleveland Jr. added six rebounds.

Kameron Langley, the Aggies’ leading scorer coming into the matchup at 10 points per game, shot only 14% for the game (1 of 7). Blake Harris, the Aggies’ second leading scorer coming into the matchup at 10 points per game, shot only 17% in the game (2 of 12).

The Rattlers registered their first win in three tries against the Aggies this season. In the most recent matchup, North Carolina A&T defeated Florida A&M 67-65 on Jan. 31.

South Alabama 56, Appalachian State 54

BOONE — Kayo Goncalves scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and South Alabama beat Appalachian State 56-54 on Saturday for the Jaguars’ eighth straight victory.

Tyreke Locure scored 12 points for South Alabama (16-8, 10-5 Sun Belt Conference) and Michael Flowers 11.

Justin Forrest had 20 points and six rebounds for the Mountaineers (12-9, 6-6), who now have lost four straight. James Lewis Jr. scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Donovan Gregory scored 10 points.

The Jags have beaten App State three out of four times this season. South Alabama beat App State 65-63 on Friday.