Wake Forest delivered a statement victory Saturday night, overpowering SMU 77-66 to disrupt the Mustangs’ momentum in a critical Atlantic Coast Conference showdown. Hunter Sallis spearheaded the effort with 20 points and nine rebounds, rallying the Demon Deacons after their narrow loss to Florida State earlier in the week.
The game turned decisively when Wake Forest unleashed a 19-8 second-half surge, capped by a Ty-Laur Johnson three-pointer. Efton Reid and Tre’Von Spillers dominated the paint, combining for 18 points and 19 rebounds. Parker Friedrichsen’s sharp three-point shooting (5-of-9 beyond the arc) kept SMU’s defense scrambling.
“Our defense fueled our offense tonight,” Wake Forest coach Steve Forbes noted postgame. SMU struggled to counter, shooting a dismal 23% from three-point range despite 11 points from forward Matt Cross.
Key factors in Wake Forest’s win:
- 44% free-throw accuracy advantage (11-of-14 vs. SMU’s 14-of-22)
- +7 rebound margin, including 11 offensive boards
- SMU’s starters combining for 8-of-31 from the field
With this win, Wake Forest (19-7, 11-4 ACC) strengthens its NCAA Tournament résumé, while SMU (19-6, 10-4) faces renewed pressure in conference standings. Both teams face road tests next week – Wake Forest visits N.C. State, while SMU travels to Notre Dame.
“This was a statement game for our postseason aspirations,” Sallis emphasized during postgame interviews.