WINSTON-SALEM — Kevin Miller scored 23 points, 7-footer Efton Reid had 12 points and 14 rebounds in his Wake Forest debut, and the Demon Deacons beat Rutgers 76-57 on Wednesday night.
Wake Forest (5-3) improved to 24-0 at home against nonconference opponents dating to December 2018 — including an 82-71 victory over Florida last Wednesday. The program announced on Tuesday that Reid, a two-time transfer, was granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA to compete this season.
Wake Forest’s double-digit lead was trimmed to 50-48 with 10:31 remaining in the second half — the closest Rutgers had been since it was 5-3. But the Demon Deacons scored the next 18 points. Reid blocked a shot in the paint and Miller made one of his four 3-pointers at the other end to extend the lead to 58-48 with 8:01 left.
Rutgers went five-plus minutes without scoring during Wake Forest’s large run.
Cameron Hildreth also scored 12 points, with six assists, for Wake Forest. Gonzaga transfer Hunter Sallis, who tied his career high of 24 points against the Gators, scored 11 points and Andrew Carr had 10.
Wake Forest built an early 29-11 lead as Rutgers started the game by making just 3 of 14 shots. But the Scarlet Knights only missed two of their next 11 field-goal attempts to pull within 37-31 at the break. The Demon Deacons led by as many as 18 points in the first half.
Aundre Hyatt and Noah Fernandes each scored 13 points for Rutgers (5-3), which played its first true road game of the season.
Wake Forest continues its seven-game home streak against NJIT on Saturday.
NC State 93, Maryland-Eastern Shore 61
RALEIGH — Jayden Taylor scored 21 points and DJ Burns Jr. added 15 points as NC State rolled to a 93-61 win over Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday night.
Casey Morsell added 12 points for the Wolfpack (6-2) and DJ Horne 10. Reserves MJ Rice and LJ Thomas scored 11 and 10, respectively, for NC State, which shot 59.3% from the field but just 55.6% from the foul line.
Troy Hupstead scored 22 points and Chace Davis and Devon Ellis each scored 12 for Maryland-Eastern Shore.
NC State never trailed except for a 53-second stretch early. Taylor tied it at 4-all, followed that with a 3-pointer then came up with a layup off a steal to make it 9-4. NC State went on a 10-2 run from there to post its first double-digit lead of the night at 19-8 on Morsell’s jump shot with 11:25 before halftime.
The Hawks drew within six points on two occasions, and, after Hupstead made two foul shots with 1:38 left before halftime, trailed 32-25. Dennis Parker Jr. countered with a jump shot and Thomas made a 3, and the Wolfpack extended the margin to 37-25 at halftime. Tyler Mack’s 3 got Maryland-Eastern Shore within 43-34 with 16:31 to mark the Eagles’ last single-digit deficit of the night.
NC State has nearly a full week off before hosting UT Martin on Tuesday.
Davidson 62, Campbell 50
DAVIDSON — Bobby Durkin scored 13 points as Davidson beat Campbell 62-50 on Wednesday night.
Durkin had eight rebounds for the Wildcats (6-3). Reed Bailey scored 11 points and added six rebounds. Grant Huffman finished with 11 points, and Connor Kochera also had 11.
Anthony Dell’Orso led the Fighting Camels (3-6) in scoring, finishing with 16 points, six rebounds and two steals. Laurynas Vaistaras added 13 points for Campbell.
Wofford 81, Gardner-Webb 66
BOILING SPRINGS — Dillon Bailey scored 20 points as Wofford beat Gardner-Webb 81-66 on Wednesday night.
Bailey had five rebounds for the Terriers (4-5). Jackson Sivills added 19 points and also had six rebounds. Corey Tripp finished with 15 points.
The Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-6) were led in scoring by Julien Soumaoro, who finished with 26 points and two steals. DQ Nicholas added 18 points, four assists and two steals for Gardner-Webb. Caleb Robinson also recorded nine points and two steals.
