Wake Forest University
.png&width=60&height=60&type=webp)
UTEP
Wake Forest Shoots Past UTEP, 103-81
11/17/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Final Stats | USATSI Gallery 
| Box Score (PDF)
By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@TieDyeNation)
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Wake Forest scored over 100 points for the first time in eight years as the Demon Deacons cruised past UTEP, 103-81, in the first round of the Charleston Classic Thursday afternoon.
Wake Forest's 103 points were the most for the Demon Deacons since scoring 120 points against UNC-Wilmington on Nov. 19, 2008, a span of 253 games.
The Demon Deacons stormed out to a 63-44 halftime lead behind the three-point ball. As a team, Wake Forest shot 13-of-20 from behind the arc in the first half, tied for the eighth-most three-point field goals in single game history, before only attempting one shot from long range in the final 20 minutes. The 63-point outburst against UTEP (1-1) is tied for fifth for points in a single half in program history and rank as the most under head coach Danny Manning. Wake Forest's 63-point effort was also the best single-half scoring output since the Deacs dropped 63 in the first half against Howard in the 1990-91 season opener
John Collins matched a game-high as he led the Demon Deacons with a career-high 24 points, 20 of which came in the second half. Collins finished 9-of-10 from the field while also bringing in six rebounds, two steals and a block.
Bryant Crawford scored 20 points in Thursday's victory, two shy of matching his career-high, while dishing out seven assists and committing just one turnover. Through three games, Crawford has 23 assists to just five turnovers.
Konstantinos Mitoglou added 18 points thanks to 4-of-6 shooting from deep and added a game-high seven rebounds. Keyshawn Woods followed with 16 points and five assists.
Two free throws by Collins opened the scoring Thursday, as Wake Forest opened to an early 13-4 lead over the Miners and never looked back. The Demon Deacons led by as many as 21 in the first half before taking the 19-point lead into halftime.
Wake Forest built its lead to as many as 28 in the second half as the Demon Deacons shot 73.9 percent (17-of-23) from the field in the final 20 minutes.
Mitchell Wilbekin and Austin Arians each contributed eight points while Brandon Childress added seven off the bench.
The Demon Deacons advance into the winner's bracket of the Charleston Classic and will face Villanova, the defending national champions, Friday. Tip-off is set for 1:30 p.m.
