WINSTON-SALEM — Tyree Appleby scored 24 points to help Wake Forest beat No. 19 Clemson 87-77 on Tuesday night, ending the Tigers’ unexpected perfect start in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
The Demon Deacons (14-5, 6-2 ACC) won their fourth straight game and played from in front the entire way after the game’s opening minute. They did it by going to work aggressively in the paint, getting to the foul line and knocking down their open looks from behind the arc, a combination that had them controlling play all night and kept the Tigers in catch-up mode.
Cameron Hildreth added 17 points and 10 rebounds for Wake Forest, which jumped to a double-digit lead by midway through the first half and had a quick start out of the break to push that margin to 15 points.
The Tigers (15-4, 7-1) twice got as close as six in the second half, the last time coming on Hunter Tyson’s putback dunk while drawing a foul for a three-point play with 2:07 left.
But with the shot clock winding down on the ensuing possession, Hildreth took a kickout feed from Daivien Williamson and coolly knocked down a straightaway 3 for the 80-71 lead that kept Wake Forest in control.
PJ Hall had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead Clemson, while Tyson had 19 points and 14 boards. The Tigers shot 42% while playing without second-leading scorer Chase Hunter due to an ankle injury.
The Tigers also managed just two field goals over roughly 9 1/2 minutes during a critical stretch as the game pushed into its final stage with Wake Forest tenuously protecting its lead.
Wake Forest shot 46%, made nine 3-pointers and got to the foul line 33 times (making 22) while Clemson attempted just 14 free throws.
NC State 78, Georgia Tech 66
ATLANTA — Terquavion Smith scored 25 points, Jarkel Joiner added 19 and NC State beat Georgia Tech 78-66 on Tuesday night for its fourth straight win.
Georgia Tech trailed 59-47 but cut the deficit to 63-57 with 6:16 to play. NC State answered with a 12-2 run for a 75-59 lead with 2:42 remaining. Smith hit a pair of 3-pointers and Joiner made four free throws during the stretch.
Smith was 9 of 17 from the floor and made four 3-pointers to go with five assists and two blocks. Joiner was 5-of-11 shooting and made all nine of his free throws.
Casey Morsell added 12 points and D.J. Burns Jr. had 10 for NC State (15-4, 5-3 ACC). Morsell also blocked three shots, including one that lead to a Joiner dunk.
Jalon Moore had 17 points and eight rebounds to lead Georgia Tech (8-10, 1-7). Four others added nine points apiece for the Yellow Jackets.
Georgia Tech built a 10-point lead five minutes into the game before an 8-2 surge gave NC State the lead for good with 1:29 remaining in the first half.
NC State is on the road against UNC on Saturday.
Dayton 68, Davidson 61
DAYTON, Ohio — Mustapha Amzil scored 19 points to help Dayton defeat Davidson 68-61 on Tuesday night.
Toumani Camara added 15 points with five rebounds and three blocks for the Flyers (13-6, 5-1 Atlantic 10 Conference). Mike Sharavjamts was 4 of 7 shooting (1 for 4 from distance) to finish with nine points.
Desmond Watson led the way for the Wildcats (9-10, 2-5) with 19 points. Sam Mennenga added 15 points and 13 rebounds for Davidson. In addition, Foster Loyer had seven points.
