Wake Forest defeats Virginia Tech 81-78

Wake Forest Takes Down Virginia Tech in Thrilling 81-78 Victory at Home

In a nail-biting conference matchup, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons edged out the visiting Virginia Tech Hokies by just three points, capturing an 81-78 victory at home on Saturday night.

The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and neither able to pull away convincingly. At halftime, the Demon Deacons held a slim lead of 36-32, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.

The largest leads in the game were 10 points for Wake Forest in the first half and 4 points for Virginia Tech in the second half. However, it was the Demon Deacons who ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to a strong performance from senior guard Nate Calmese, who scored 25 points on 3-6 three-point shooting.

Calmese's hot hand was complemented by a solid all-around effort from Myles Colvin, who pulled down 8 rebounds and added 7 points and 3 steals. The senior forward also chipped in with 7 assists to lead the Demon Deacons' offense.

For Virginia Tech, Jailen Bedford paced the team with 25 points, but his efforts were not enough to overcome the Demon Deacons' strong defensive effort. Amani Hansberry led the Hokies on the glass with 10 rebounds and added 19 points and 4 assists.

The win marks Wake Forest's third consecutive victory over Virginia Tech and sets up a crucial matchup next week in Blacksburg, Virginia.

Here are some key statistics from the game:

Wake Forest Game Stats

* Field Goals: 30/67 (45.0%)

* 2-Point FG: 23/43 (53.5%)

* 3-Point FG: 7/24 (29.0%)

* Free Throws: 14/16 (88.0%)

* Rebounds: 34 (Off: 13, Def: 21)

* Assists: 14

* Turnovers: 11

* Steals: 10

* Blocks: 1

Virginia Tech Game Stats

* Field Goals: 25/53 (47.0%)

* 2-Point FG: 15/23 (65.2%)

* 3-Point FG: 10/30 (33.0%)

* Free Throws: 18/25 (72.0%)

* Rebounds: 33 (Off: 8, Def: 25)

* Assists: 15

* Turnovers: 19

* Steals: 6

* Blocks: 2

The win propels Wake Forest into a tie for second place in the Atlantic Coast Conference standings, while Virginia Tech falls to third.