BLACKSBURG, Va. — Daivien Williamson tossed in 19 points and Dallas Walton scored 17 as Wake Forest pulled away in the second half to beat Virginia Tech 80-61 in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday.
Williamson scored 11 points in the second half to help the Demon Deacons (8-1) turn a 38-34 lead at intermission into a rout. Williamson sank 8 of 14 shots, including 3 of 6 from behind the 3-point line, as Wake Forest shot 63% from the floor and 44% from distance (7 of 16). Walton knocked down 7 of 10 shots against Virginia Tech’s stout defense. The Hokies came in yielding just 53.4 points per game — second best in the nation.
Jake LaRavia pitched in with 10 points and seven rebounds for Wake Forest. Alondes Williams contributed 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but he also had six of the Deacons’ 10 turnovers.
Keve Aluma paced Virginia Tech (6-3) with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists. He scored just five points in the second half. Justyn Mutts added 15 points. Aluma and Mutts — the Hokies’ only two players averaging in double figures — combined to make 15 of 26 shots from the floor. The rest of the Hokies sank only 8 of 30 shots (27%).
Wake Forest outscored Virginia Tech 48-28 in the paint. The Hokies lost for the first time in their last five ACC home openers and saw a four-game win streak at home end. The Demon Deacons snapped a six-game skid against Virginia Tech and lead the all-time series 39-31.
Louisville 73, NC State 68
RALEIGH — Matt Cross blocked a 3-pointer and made a 3-pointer in the final minute, Louisville scored the game’s final nine points and the Cardinals defeated NC State 73-68 on Saturday in the ACC opener for both teams.
After Louisville’s Noah Locke hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 68 with 1:33 to go, Cross blocked a 3-pointer attempt by Jericole Hellems then buried the go-ahead 3-pointer from the left corner with 28 seconds to go. Cam Hayes missed a 3-pointer for the Wolfpack with 12 seconds left and Jarrod West capped the scoring, making two free throws with 7 seconds remaining.
NC State (6-2) did not score after a 3-pointer by Hellems with 3:02 to go had given the Wolfpack a 68-64 lead. They missed 10 of their last 11 shots.
Malik Williams led Louisville (6-2) with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Cross had 13 points with seven rebounds and made 3 of 6 3-point tries. Locke scored 12 points, all on 4-of-8 3-point shooting. Dre Davis and El Ellis scored 11 points each.
NC State’s Dereon Seabron, coming off a 39-point, 19-rebound game against Nebraska, was held to 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting with nine rebounds. Hellems led the Wolfpack with 18 points, Hayes scored 15 and Terquavion Smith had 17. The starters scored all 68 points for the Wolfpack.
It was Louisville’s 12th win in the past 14 conference openers.
UNC Asheville 82, NC Central 66
ASHEVILLE — Tajion Jones had 23 points and 10 rebounds to help UNC Asheville cruise to an 82-66 victory over North Carolina Central on Saturday.
Jamon Battle had 14 points for the Bulldogs (5-3), who won their fourth straight game at home. Trent Stephney added 11 points and seven rebounds, while LJ Thorpe scored 10.
Randy Miller Jr. had 18 points for the Eagles (3-6). Eric Boone added 13 points and six rebounds. Kris Monroe had 12 points.
East Carolina 62, Gardner-Webb 52
GREENVILLE — J.J. Miles had 15 points as East Carolina beat Gardner-Webb 62-52 on Saturday.
Brandon Suggs had 12 points for East Carolina (7-2), which earned its sixth consecutive home victory. Tristen Newton added 12 points. Ludgy Debaut had 11 rebounds.
Jordan Sears had 12 points for the Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-4), whose four-game winning streak came to an end. Lance Terry added 11 points. Kareem Reid had seven rebounds.
Charlotte 86, George Washington 79
CHARLOTTE — Jahmir Young scored 26 points and Clyde Trapp scored 19 with 12 rebounds and Charlotte ended a three-game losing streak beating George Washington 86-79 on Saturday.
Young made all 11 of his foul shots and Charlotte finished 19 for 21 from the line. Austin Butler scored 17 points and Aly Khalifa 10.
Brendan Adams’ basket gave the Colonials a 23-17 lead with 8:26 before halftime. Young followed with a four-point play which ignited Charlotte (4-3) and the 49ers proceeded to outscore George Washington 24-6 the rest of the half.
Charlotte never trailed after intermission.
James Bishop scored 23 points for George Washington (2-8), Adams 18 and Brayon Freeman 11 off the bench. The Colonials now have dropped four-straight games for the second time this season.
Davidson 70, William & Mary 46
DAVIDSON — Hyunjung Lee had 12 points and 10 rebounds to carry Davidson to a 70-46 win over William & Mary on Saturday.
Luka Brajkovic had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Wildcats (6-2), who stretched their winning streak to five games. Foster Loyer added 15 points.
Connor Kochera had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Tribe (1-8). Yuri Covington added 14 points.
Western Carolina 78, SC Upstate 73
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Nicholas Robinson scored 14 points and Travion McCray scored 12 and distributed eight assists and Western Carolina beat South Carolina Upstate 78-73 on Saturday.
Western Carolina outscored South Carolina Upstate 10-2 in the final 3:19 to earn the win.
The Catamounts (5-4) were aided with 34 points from its reserves as Marcus Banks and Marvin Price each scored 11. Marlow Gilmore also grabbed 11 rebounds off the bench.
Jalen Breazeale, Jordan Gainey and Bryson Mozone each scored 15 for the Spartans (2-6).
VCU 65, Campbell 61
RICHMOND, Va. — Vince Williams Jr. had 14 points, eight rebounds and five assists as VCU narrowly beat Campbell 65-61 on Saturday.
KeShawn Curry had 12 points for the Rams (4-4). Levi Stockard III added 10 points. Jayden Nunn had 10 points.
Cedric Henderson Jr. had 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Fighting Camels (6-2), whose four-game winning streak came to an end. He also committed seven turnovers. Jesus Carralero added 19 points and six assists. Ricky Clemons had six rebounds.
