Wake Forest Athletics
Photo by: BryceMitchell
Wake Forest, Navy Meet in First Round of NIT
3/17/2026 11:46:00 AM | Men's Basketball
The Demon Deacons and Midshipmen will meet for the first time in Winston-Salem since Dec. 29, 2000.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest men's basketball will be making its third postseason appearance in five seasons, as the Demon Deacons will host Patriot League regular season champions Navy on Wednesday evening at LJVM Coliseum.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the matchup will air nationally on ESPNU.
Last Time Out
The No. 13-seeded Demon Deacons saw their ACC Tournament run come to a close as they fell to fifth-seeded Clemson in the second round of the 2026 ACC Men's Basketball tournament by a score of 71-62 on Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center.
Sophomore guard Juke Harris led the Demon Deacons in scoring as he logged 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The Salisbury, N.C., native also added a team-high four assists, two rebounds and a steal against the Tigers.
Senior forward Tre'Von Spillers registered his third double-double of the season on Wednesday night as he ended the game with 15 points and a season-best 12 rebounds. The Charleston, S.C., native had a career day from beyond the arc as he hit a career-high three three-pointers. Spillers also added three assists and a pair of blocks.
Meanwhile, senior Nate Calmese tallied an additional 20 points and an assist while playing 25 minutes off the bench.
The LJVM Advantage
Wake Forest men's basketball has built one of college basketball's premier home court advantages over the last five seasons, as the Demon Deacons have collected 73 victories at LJVM Coliseum since 2021.
The 73 home victories are tied for the 11th-most nationally during that span and second-most amongst ACC programs.
Turning Them Over
Wake Forest's active defense has recorded 414 turnovers so far this season, tied for fourth-most in the ACC.
Juke Is Gonna Juke
Sophomore guard Juke Harris has earned numerous honors this season for his breakout campaign, including being the second ACC Most Improved Player in program history and earning All-ACC second-team honors. Additionally, he is Wake Forest's fifth-straight NABC All-South Atlantic first-team selection.
Harris is one of just three players in program history to score more than 700 points in a single season, joining Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Dickie Hemric and Len Chappell.
Most Points Scored In Single Season In School History
Harris is one of just six players nationally – and one of two guards – to average more than 21 points and six rebounds per game.
Players Averaging 21 Points, 6 Rebounds Per Game This Season
After averaging 6.1 points per game against a freshman, Harris' 15.2 points per game increase this year is the largest of any player at the Division I level.
Scoring Increase Leaders (Nationally)
Series History: Wake Forest vs. Navy
Navy is making its first postseason appearance since 1998 and its second trip to the NIT (1962) following a regular season Patriot League title with a league-record-tying 17-1 record.
Individually, the Midshipmen are led by 2026 Patriot League Player Austin Benigni. He ranks second in the Patriot League with 18 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from three.
Television Information
Wednesday's game will air on ESPNU with Anish Shorff and Dennis Scott on the call. Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeMBB).
Accessibility Information
Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at games, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all people. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at tomorrow's game, fans can access closed captions here for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Ticket Information
Tickets will be available at GoDeacs.com/Tickets, or by calling 336-758-3322, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16. Tickets are $25 each for reserved lower level and $15 each for youth under 18. Season ticket holders and Deacon Club ILC members and Volunteer Army should check their email for exclusive pre-sale information.
Wake Forest students are able to claim a complimentary ticket through the Screamin' Demon rewards app, courtesy of generous Deacon Club donors. Supplies are limited and tickets will be $15 each for students when all complimentary tickets have been claimed.
Important Parking Updates
Parking will be available for $10 per vehicle in the Allegacy, Pepsi and Starry lots and may be purchased with advance ticket orders, or upon arrival.
Amid ongoing construction and roadway improvements related to The Grounds — a transformational mixed-use development that began construction in late 2024, including the recently announced Creekside apartment development — Wake Forest Athletics has realigned gameday parking and traffic patterns to reflect changes along the new Deacon Boulevard.
All fans are encouraged to review the updated 2025-26 parking maps, lot assignments, and entry points by visiting godeacs.com/bballparking. This resource includes interactive maps, helpful FAQs, and tips to ensure a smooth and efficient arrival experience.
If you have questions or need assistance with your parking assignment, please don't hesitate to contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 or email tix@wfu.edu. Our staff is here to help you prepare for an unforgettable gameday in DEACTOWN!
Up Next
If Wake Forest advances, the Demon Deacons will play the winner of Illinois State vs. Kent State in the second round of the NIT.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. and the matchup will air nationally on ESPNU.
Last Time Out
The No. 13-seeded Demon Deacons saw their ACC Tournament run come to a close as they fell to fifth-seeded Clemson in the second round of the 2026 ACC Men's Basketball tournament by a score of 71-62 on Wednesday night at the Spectrum Center.
Sophomore guard Juke Harris led the Demon Deacons in scoring as he logged 22 points on 7-of-12 shooting. The Salisbury, N.C., native also added a team-high four assists, two rebounds and a steal against the Tigers.
Senior forward Tre'Von Spillers registered his third double-double of the season on Wednesday night as he ended the game with 15 points and a season-best 12 rebounds. The Charleston, S.C., native had a career day from beyond the arc as he hit a career-high three three-pointers. Spillers also added three assists and a pair of blocks.
Meanwhile, senior Nate Calmese tallied an additional 20 points and an assist while playing 25 minutes off the bench.
The LJVM Advantage
Wake Forest men's basketball has built one of college basketball's premier home court advantages over the last five seasons, as the Demon Deacons have collected 73 victories at LJVM Coliseum since 2021.
The 73 home victories are tied for the 11th-most nationally during that span and second-most amongst ACC programs.
| Rank | ACC Program | Home Wins Since 2021-22 |
| 1. | Duke | 78 |
| 2. | Wake Forest | 73 |
| 3. | North Carolina | 71 |
| 4. | Virginia | 67 |
| 5. | Clemson | 66 |
Wake Forest's active defense has recorded 414 turnovers so far this season, tied for fourth-most in the ACC.
| Rank | ACC School | Total Turnovers Forced |
| 1. | Florida State | 450 |
| 2. | NC State | 422 |
| 3. | Miami | 420 |
| T4. | Wake Forest | 414 |
| T4. | Duke | 414 |
Sophomore guard Juke Harris has earned numerous honors this season for his breakout campaign, including being the second ACC Most Improved Player in program history and earning All-ACC second-team honors. Additionally, he is Wake Forest's fifth-straight NABC All-South Atlantic first-team selection.
Harris is one of just three players in program history to score more than 700 points in a single season, joining Wake Forest Sports Hall of Famers Dickie Hemric and Len Chappell.
Most Points Scored In Single Season In School History
| Rank | Name | Year | Points |
| 1. | Len Chappell | 1961-62 | 932 |
| 2. | Dickie Hemric | 1954-55 | 746 |
| 3. | Len Chappell | 1960-61 | 745 |
| 4. | Juke Harris | 2025-26 | 704 |
| 5. | Charlie Davis | 1970-71 | 690 |
Players Averaging 21 Points, 6 Rebounds Per Game This Season
| Player | School | Points Per Game | Rebounds Per Game |
| Juke Harris | Wake Forest | 21.3 | 6.5 |
| Cameron Boozer | Duke | 22.5 | 10.2 |
| AJ Dybantsa | BYU | 25.3 | 6.7 |
| JT Toppin | Texas Tech | 21.8 | 10.8 |
| Nick Martinelli | Northwestern | 23.0 | 6.2 |
| Jordan Riley | ECU | 23.6 | 6.0 |
Scoring Increase Leaders (Nationally)
| Rank | Player | School | Points Per Game Increase |
| 1. | Juke Harris | Wake Forest | 15.2 |
| 2. | Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn | UNLV | 14.8 |
| 3. | Darin Smith Jr. | Central Connecticut | 14.7 |
| 4. | Kamrin Oriol | North Florida | 13.9 |
| 5. | Tyler Tanner | Vanderbilt | 13.4 |
- All-Time Record vs. Navy: 5-4
- Last Matchup: Jan. 7, 2002 (Wake Forest won 87-65)
Navy is making its first postseason appearance since 1998 and its second trip to the NIT (1962) following a regular season Patriot League title with a league-record-tying 17-1 record.
Individually, the Midshipmen are led by 2026 Patriot League Player Austin Benigni. He ranks second in the Patriot League with 18 points per game while shooting 44.4 percent from three.
Television Information
Wednesday's game will air on ESPNU with Anish Shorff and Dennis Scott on the call. Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeMBB).
Accessibility Information
Wake Forest Athletics strives to provide content at games, social media and on GoDeacs.com that is accessible to all people. In the continued effort to improve accessibility of the technology and digital content at tomorrow's game, fans can access closed captions here for the public address announcer and in-venue content.
Ticket Information
Tickets will be available at GoDeacs.com/Tickets, or by calling 336-758-3322, beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16. Tickets are $25 each for reserved lower level and $15 each for youth under 18. Season ticket holders and Deacon Club ILC members and Volunteer Army should check their email for exclusive pre-sale information.
Wake Forest students are able to claim a complimentary ticket through the Screamin' Demon rewards app, courtesy of generous Deacon Club donors. Supplies are limited and tickets will be $15 each for students when all complimentary tickets have been claimed.
Important Parking Updates
Parking will be available for $10 per vehicle in the Allegacy, Pepsi and Starry lots and may be purchased with advance ticket orders, or upon arrival.
Amid ongoing construction and roadway improvements related to The Grounds — a transformational mixed-use development that began construction in late 2024, including the recently announced Creekside apartment development — Wake Forest Athletics has realigned gameday parking and traffic patterns to reflect changes along the new Deacon Boulevard.
All fans are encouraged to review the updated 2025-26 parking maps, lot assignments, and entry points by visiting godeacs.com/bballparking. This resource includes interactive maps, helpful FAQs, and tips to ensure a smooth and efficient arrival experience.
If you have questions or need assistance with your parking assignment, please don't hesitate to contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 or email tix@wfu.edu. Our staff is here to help you prepare for an unforgettable gameday in DEACTOWN!
Up Next
If Wake Forest advances, the Demon Deacons will play the winner of Illinois State vs. Kent State in the second round of the NIT.
Players Mentioned
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