Tuesday, February 20
Winston-Salem, N.C.
9:00 p.m.
Wake Forest University
17-9,9-6ACC
91
vs
58
Pittsburgh
17-9,8-7ACC
1
2
F
Pittsburgh
33
25
58
Wake Forest
45
46
91
Photo by: Seth Seebaugh
Demon Deacons Earn 14th-Straight Home Win, Dominate Panthers
2/21/2024 12:31:00 AM | Men's Basketball
This is believed to be the only game in Wake Forest history that the Demon Deacons have shot 60 percent or better from the field, 50 percent or better from three and 90 percent or better from the free throw line.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Focused for a season rematch versus Pitt, Wake Forest men's basketball kept its home record untouched on Tuesday night (Feb. 20), controlling both ends of the court to notch a 91-58 victory inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (17-9, 9-6 ACC) shot a blistering 60.8 percent (31-of-51) from the field, 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from three and 95.0 percent (19-of-20) from the free throw line. This is believed to be the only game in Wake Forest history that the Demon Deacons have shot 60 percent or better from the field, 50 percent or better from three and 90 percent or better from the free throw line.
The Deacs have won 14 consecutive home games for the first time since 2013-14. It is tied with 2000-01 for the fifth-longest home winning streak in program history.
Wake Forest now holds an impressive 45-5 record at home since the start of the 2021-22 season including a perfect 14-0 mark at home. The Deacons' overall wins since the start of the 2021-22 season rank second in the country and lead the ACC during that time frame.
The team held Pitt (17-9, 8-7) to its lowest field goal percentage this season. The Panthers' previous low came against North Carolina when they shot 30.9 percent on Jan. 2.
Additionally, this was the Panthers' lowest shooting percentage against an ACC opponent since playing against Boston College on Feb. 12, 2019 when they also shot 29.0 percent from the field.
For the eighth time this season, five or more Deacs registered double figures in scoring, led by Kevin Miller's game-high 18 points.
Creating a strong two-way presence from the jump, junior guard Cameron Hildreth finished with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Since the 1996-97 season, the only other Demon Deacons with that statline or better are Tyree Appleby, Ish Smith, Chris Paul, Josh Howard and Darius Songalia.
The Worthing, England, native drew contact a handful of times and went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Overall, Wake Forest recorded its fifth-best free throw shooting percentage in its history with a minimum of 20 attempts, going 19-of-20 (.950 percent) from the stripe. It was also the highest such percentage since Nov. 29, 2019 against Long Beach State.
Junior Hunter Sallis chipped in 17 points while making all three of his attempts from outside of the arc. This was the 26th consecutive game that he has scored in double figures. Sallis played a well-rounded game, adding five assists and four rebounds.
Holding down the frontcourt, junior forward Efton Reid III and junior forward Andrew Carr contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively. Additionally, Carr grabbed a team-best eight boards.
Wake Forest hosts Duke on Saturday (Feb. 24), facing the Blue Devils for the second time in 12 days. The two Big Four opponents met in Durham a week ago (Feb. 12). Saturday's tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be shown on ESPN.
How It Happened
Stats of the Game
Key Moment
Coach's Comments
"There's this quote from my dad that's really important to me, 'there's a reason why the windshield of your car is bigger than your rearview mirror, it's because what's out in front of you is more important than what's behind you.' I told them that on Sunday, and then I heard Kelvin Sampson say something last night about it. They did a good job of putting that thing away from Saturday. We had a really tough film session on Sunday then went out and had a great practice yesterday and today they came out and played their tails off against a really good basketball team.
I have a lot of respect for Pitt. I think Blake Hinson is an all-league player. I think the two freshmen are two of the best in the league and in the country. We just did a really good job and got off to a great start. Hunter got us going offensively, we were locked in defensively. Matt Marsh picked us up when Efton Reid went to the bench with two fouls. I thought he played great and Parker played great in the first half, but you have to go to Cameron. Hinson is one of the best I've ever seen in a long time. For Cam to be able to guard a guy that long, that big and that physical and do such a good job guarding him is great. Boopie played outstanding, running the team, pressuring the ball, getting 50/50 balls, scoring. He was really engaged.
It was just a great team effort. Andrew was 10 and eight, just great balance. The most encouraging thing offensively was 18 assists on 31 baskets. We've been working really hard on that, so I'm really proud of them. They did a good job. It's hard for kids this age to block out the noise. We talked about that a lot. Because they're on social media a lot, so it's just their life. You can't listen to all the praise when you win and all the criticism when you lose. You just have to block that stuff out. They're doing a pretty good job of that." - head coach Steve Forbes
Up Next
Wake Forest hosts Duke on Saturday (Feb. 24), facing the Blue Devils for the second time in 12 days. The two Big Four opponents met in Durham a week ago (Feb. 12). Saturday's tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be shown on ESPN.
The Demon Deacons (17-9, 9-6 ACC) shot a blistering 60.8 percent (31-of-51) from the field, 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from three and 95.0 percent (19-of-20) from the free throw line. This is believed to be the only game in Wake Forest history that the Demon Deacons have shot 60 percent or better from the field, 50 percent or better from three and 90 percent or better from the free throw line.
The Deacs have won 14 consecutive home games for the first time since 2013-14. It is tied with 2000-01 for the fifth-longest home winning streak in program history.
Wake Forest now holds an impressive 45-5 record at home since the start of the 2021-22 season including a perfect 14-0 mark at home. The Deacons' overall wins since the start of the 2021-22 season rank second in the country and lead the ACC during that time frame.
The team held Pitt (17-9, 8-7) to its lowest field goal percentage this season. The Panthers' previous low came against North Carolina when they shot 30.9 percent on Jan. 2.
Additionally, this was the Panthers' lowest shooting percentage against an ACC opponent since playing against Boston College on Feb. 12, 2019 when they also shot 29.0 percent from the field.
For the eighth time this season, five or more Deacs registered double figures in scoring, led by Kevin Miller's game-high 18 points.
Creating a strong two-way presence from the jump, junior guard Cameron Hildreth finished with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. Since the 1996-97 season, the only other Demon Deacons with that statline or better are Tyree Appleby, Ish Smith, Chris Paul, Josh Howard and Darius Songalia.
The Worthing, England, native drew contact a handful of times and went 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.
Overall, Wake Forest recorded its fifth-best free throw shooting percentage in its history with a minimum of 20 attempts, going 19-of-20 (.950 percent) from the stripe. It was also the highest such percentage since Nov. 29, 2019 against Long Beach State.
Junior Hunter Sallis chipped in 17 points while making all three of his attempts from outside of the arc. This was the 26th consecutive game that he has scored in double figures. Sallis played a well-rounded game, adding five assists and four rebounds.
Holding down the frontcourt, junior forward Efton Reid III and junior forward Andrew Carr contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively. Additionally, Carr grabbed a team-best eight boards.
Wake Forest hosts Duke on Saturday (Feb. 24), facing the Blue Devils for the second time in 12 days. The two Big Four opponents met in Durham a week ago (Feb. 12). Saturday's tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be shown on ESPN.
How It Happened
- Sallis scored the first points of the game and took the lead early with a three-pointer to make the score 3-2.
- On the defensive side of the floor, Carr pulled down a defensive rebound which resulted in a pull up jumper by Miller to add to the Deacs 5-2 lead.
- Carr drained a three after a Pitt turnover to make the Deacs lead 8-2.
- The Deacs scored back-to-back threes with a fast break three pointer from Hunter Sallis.
- Marsh added a second-chance bucket to add to Wake Forest's 13-5 lead.
- Carr was fouled on a shot and went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to make the score 15-10.
- On the next possession, Sallis went 2-of-2 from the line to add to the Wake Forest 17-13 lead.
- Reid threw down a dunk off a Hildreth assist to make the score 19-15 just after the 12 minute mark.
- Hildreth stole the ball on the next possession and added a fast break layup to add to the Deacs 21-15 lead.
- Monsanto pulled in a defensive board which resulted in a three from Freidrichsen off a Reid assist to make it 24-15 at the 10-minute mark of the first half.
- Just after the timeout, Miller drilled his first three off a Sallis assist to make the Deacs lead 27-17.
- On the next possession, Freidrichsen made his second three of the night to make the score 30-18.
- Freidrichsen hauled in his first rebound of the night on the defensive side of the floor which resulted in a Marsh layup off an assist from Sallis to make the lead 32-18.
- After an offensive rebound from Carr, he dished it out beyond the arc to Miller for a three to add to the Deacs 35-22 lead.
- Miller went 2-of-2 from the free throw line to make the score 37-25.
- Sallis threw an alleyoop up to Carr to add on to the Deacs 39-25 lead with three minutes left in the half.
- Carr was fouled on the dunk and converted the and-one to make the score 40-25
- Pitt fouled Hildreth and sent him to the line where he went 1-of-2 and added to the Deacs 41-25 lead.
- On the next possession, Hildreth went back to the charity stripe and went 2-of-2 to make the score 43-28 in the final minutes of the first half.
- With 30 seconds left, Sallis hit a jumper in the paint to extend the lead to 45-33.
- Wake Forest led Pitt 45-33 at the half.
- Sallis and Miller led all players with 10 points in the first 20 minutes.
- Both were 3-of-5 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from the free throw line.
- Marsh had a game-time four first-half rebounds.
- Sallis and Miller led all players with 10 points in the first 20 minutes.
- Reid scored the first points of the second half for the Deacs with a dunk off a Hildreth assist to make the score 47-33.
- After a defensive rebound by Carr, Sallis hit a jumper in the paint to add to the Wake Forest 49-34 lead.
- On the fast break, Miller scored off a layup that extended the lead to 51-34.
- Marsh scored off an alleyoop from Hildreth to make the lead 53-35 before the first media timeout of the second half.
- Marsh was fouled on the alleyoop and converted the and-one free throw to make the lead 54-35.
- Sallis drained a three off an assist from Hildreth to make the Deacs lead 57-37.
- On the defensive side of the floor, Carr tallied a block and an offensive rebound to give the Deacs the ball.
- On the following possession, Miller hit a jumper from the paint to extend the lead to 59-37.
- Friedrichsen continued his perfect streak from beyond the arc with a three pointer to make the lead 62-37.
- Monsanto drained a three to make the score 65-37 just before the 13-minute mark of the second half.
- Wake Forest went on an 11-2 run that lasted for 2:44 of clock time.
- Just before the 10-minute mark of the second half, Hildreth was fouled driving to the basket and went 2-of-2 from the line to extend the lead to 67-43.
- Reid was fouled on a shot and went 2-of-2 from the line to make the Deacs' lead 69-46.
- Miller hit a layup to add to the 71-46 lead.
- At the eight minute mark of the second half, Reid drained a hook shot that extended the Deacs' lead to 73-48.
- Just after the media timeout, Reid scored off a slam dunk to make the lead 75-50.
- Hildreth forced a steal and scored on the fast break to give the Deacs a 77-50 lead.
- On back-to-back possessions, Hildreth scored with a turnaround jumper to extend the lead to 79-50.
- With five minutes left in the game, Miller drove to the basket and scored to make the lead 81-52.
- Hildreth went 2-of-2 from the charity stripe to extend the Wake Forest lead to 83-53.
- After the media timeout, Sallis went 2-of-2 from the free throw line to make the lead 85-55.
- Reid threw down an alley oop from Sallis to add to the 87-58 Wake Forest lead.
- Sallis pulled down a defensive board, which led to a layup from Carr off a pass from Reid to extend the lead to 89-58.
- On the defensive side of the floor, Clark recorded a steal.
- Marion scored off an offensive rebound to make the Wake Forest lead 91-58.
- Wake Forest defeated Pitt, 91-58.
Stats of the Game
- Wake Forest now holds an impressive 45-5 record at home since the start of the 2021-22 season including a perfect 14-0 mark at home. The Demon Deacons overall wins since the start of the 2021-22 season rank second in the country and lead the ACC during that time frame.
- It marks the most home wins by an ACC team since 2021 and the best winning percentage (.898).
- The Demon Deacons shot a blistering 60.8 percent (31-of-51) from the field, 50.0 percent (10-of-20) from three and 95.0 percent (19-of-20) from the free throw line.
- This is believed to be the only game in Wake Forest history that the Demon Deacons have shot 60 percent or better from the field, 50 percent or better from three and 90 percent or better from the free throw line.
- The Deacs recorded their fifth-best free throw shooting percentage in its history with a minimum of 20 attempts, going 19-of-20 (.950 percent) from the stripe.
- It was also the highest such percentage since Nov. 29, 2019 against Long Beach State.
- Wake Forest held Pitt to its lowest field goal percentage this season.
- The Panthers' previous low came against North Carolina when they shot 30.9 percent on Jan. 2.
- Additionally, this was Pitt's lowest shooting percentage against an ACC opponent since playing against Boston College on Feb. 12, 2019 when the team also shot 29.0 percent from the field.
- The Panthers' previous low came against North Carolina when they shot 30.9 percent on Jan. 2.
- Cameron Hildreth finished with 13 points, five rebounds, five assists and three steals – the latter tying for a season high.
- It was just the eighth time since 1996 that a Wake Forest player recorded 10-plus points, 5-plus rebounds, 5-plus assists, three-plus steals and a block.
Key Moment
- At the 10:31 mark of the first half, Parker Friedrichsen drained a triple to start an 11-3 Wake Forest run, with the score being 24-15 at the time in favor of the Deacs.
- Pitt scored on a driving layup during its next possession, but Kevin Miller responded with a long three off of a Panther turnover moments later.
- Friedrichsen then ripped the ropes again with an outside bucket and Matthew Marsh finished a lob pass inside.
- Wake Forest jumped up 32-18 before the under-8 media timeout arrived shortly afterward.
Coach's Comments
"There's this quote from my dad that's really important to me, 'there's a reason why the windshield of your car is bigger than your rearview mirror, it's because what's out in front of you is more important than what's behind you.' I told them that on Sunday, and then I heard Kelvin Sampson say something last night about it. They did a good job of putting that thing away from Saturday. We had a really tough film session on Sunday then went out and had a great practice yesterday and today they came out and played their tails off against a really good basketball team.
I have a lot of respect for Pitt. I think Blake Hinson is an all-league player. I think the two freshmen are two of the best in the league and in the country. We just did a really good job and got off to a great start. Hunter got us going offensively, we were locked in defensively. Matt Marsh picked us up when Efton Reid went to the bench with two fouls. I thought he played great and Parker played great in the first half, but you have to go to Cameron. Hinson is one of the best I've ever seen in a long time. For Cam to be able to guard a guy that long, that big and that physical and do such a good job guarding him is great. Boopie played outstanding, running the team, pressuring the ball, getting 50/50 balls, scoring. He was really engaged.
It was just a great team effort. Andrew was 10 and eight, just great balance. The most encouraging thing offensively was 18 assists on 31 baskets. We've been working really hard on that, so I'm really proud of them. They did a good job. It's hard for kids this age to block out the noise. We talked about that a lot. Because they're on social media a lot, so it's just their life. You can't listen to all the praise when you win and all the criticism when you lose. You just have to block that stuff out. They're doing a pretty good job of that." - head coach Steve Forbes
Up Next
Wake Forest hosts Duke on Saturday (Feb. 24), facing the Blue Devils for the second time in 12 days. The two Big Four opponents met in Durham a week ago (Feb. 12). Saturday's tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and the game will be shown on ESPN.
Team Stats
UP
WF
FG%
.290
.608
3FG%
.273
.500
FT%
.684
.950
RB
29
39
TO
9
10
STL
6
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
3
3FGM
0
FTM
7
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
C
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's BasketballF/C
/ Men's BasketballG
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