WINSTON-SALEM — D.J. Burns Jr. scored a career-high 31 points and Jarkel Joiner scored 17 and NC State rallied down the stretch for an exciting 79-77 win against Wake Forest on Saturday.
The Wolfpack secured the win despite shooting just 7 for 16 from the foul line.
Down 77-74 with 29 seconds left, Wake Forest’s Damari Monsanto and Tyree Appleby missed 3-pointers on the same possession. Joiner made two free throws with 11 seconds to go to clinch it.
Burns scored 23 in the second half shooting 10 for 15 in contrast to his 4-for-11 shooting before intermission. The 6-foot-9, 275-pound lefty continuously got to his shooting spot down the stretch putting his hook shot over Wake’s 7-foot-1, 250-pound post Matthew Marsh. When the Demon Deacons double-teamed Burns he effectively passed out of the post avoiding traps.
Monsanto tied it at 73-all for Wake Forest with a basket with 1:35 left. Though finishing just 3 of 8 from the foul line, Burns sank a pair when Monsanto fouled him with 1:22 remaining.
Appleby made 1-of-2 foul shots on the Demon Deacons ensuing possession and they trailed 75-74. Terquavion Smith’s jump shot gave NC State a three-point lead.
Daivien Williamson’s 3-pointer gave Wake Forest a 60-51 lead with 10:05 to go before NC State began to chip away. The Wolfpack outscored Wake Forest 16-4 over close to the next six minutes and went ahead on LJ Thomas’ 3 which made it 67-64 with 4:22 left.
Smith scored 16 points for NC State (17-5, 7-4 ACC) and Greg Gantt grabbed 10 rebounds.
Monsanto scored 22 points for Wake Forest (14-8, 6-5), Appleby 18, Andrew Carr 14 and Cameron Hildreth 12.
NC State hosts Florida State on Wednesday. The Demon Deacons — losers of three straight — travel to face Duke on Tuesday.
Duke 86, Georgia Tech 43
ATLANTA — Kyle Filipowski scored 18 points, Jeremy Roach scored 12 and Duke gutted Georgia Tech, beating the Yellow Jackets 86-43 on Saturday.
Mark Mitchell scored 11 points for Duke and reserves Jacob Grandison and Ryan Young each scored 10.
Reserve Tristan Maxwell scored 10 points for Georgia Tech.
Duke ended its five-game stretch of outcomes decided by single digits, going 3-2 in that span. The Blue Devils took control just before intermission and proceeded to outscore Georgia Tech 56-20 in the game’s final 24 minutes.
Duke led by 18 points at halftime and continued the onslaught, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 19-6 over the first seven-and-a-half minutes of the second half for a 62-31 advantage.
Duke built a 16-7 lead after Roach earlier made a pair of 3-pointers in Duke’s first three possessions and the Blue Devils (15-6, 6-4 ACC) never trailed. The Blue Devils shot 48.4% (15 of 31) in the first half and ended at 55.7% overall, shooting 34 for 61.
Deivon Smith’s 3 brought the Yellow Jackets (8-13, 1-10) within 30-23 with 4:23 left before halftime. But Young made a layup, Filipowski threw down a dunk and Duke closed the half with a 13-2 run for a 43-25 lead at intermission.
Duke hosts Wake Forest on Tuesday. The Yellow Jackets head to Louisville on Wednesday.
UNC Asheville 78, Campbell 65
BUIES CREEK — Tajion Jones’ 30 points led UNC Asheville past Campbell 78-65 on Saturday.
Jones added seven rebounds for the Bulldogs (17-6, 9-1 Big South Conference). Drew Pember added 13 points and also had five rebounds. Caleb Burgess finished with 12 points. The Bulldogs prolonged their winning streak to eight games.
Jay Pal led the Fighting Camels (9-13, 4-6) in scoring, finishing with 15 points and seven rebounds. Ricky Clemons added 15 points and four assists for Campbell. Laurynas Vaistaras also had 13 points.
Queens 71, Stetson 65
CHARLOTTE — AJ McKee and Kenny Dye scored 15 points apiece as Queens beat Stetson 71-65 on Saturday.
McKee also added five rebounds for the Royals (15-8, 5-5 Atlantic Sun Conference). BJ McLaurin finished with 13 points.
The Hatters (11-10, 6-4) were led in scoring by Jalen Blackmon, who finished with 14 points and two steals. Stephan D. Swenson added 11 points for Stetson. In addition, Josh Smith finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Western Carolina 71, VMI 65
LEXINGTON, Va. — Vonterius Woolbright’s 19 points helped Western Carolina defeat VMI 71-65 on Saturday.
Woolbright had seven rebounds and 11 assists for the Catamounts (12-11, 5-5 Southern Conference). Tyzhaun Claude scored 18 points and added 13 rebounds. DJ Campbell recorded 14 points and shot 6 for 13, including 1 for 5 from beyond the arc.
The Keydets (5-18, 0-10) were led by Tyler Houser, who recorded 23 points. Tony Felder added 11 points for VMI. In addition, Sean Conway finished with nine points. The Keydets extended their losing streak to 12 straight.
Elon 72, Drexel 58
ELON — Sean Halloran had 18 points in Elon’s 72-58 victory against Drexel on Saturday night.
Halloran added five assists for the Phoenix (3-19, 1-8 Colonial Athletic Association). Max Mackinnon scored 14 points and added five rebounds. Jerald Gillens-Butler finished with 14 points. The Phoenix broke an 11-game slide.
Amari Williams finished with 23 points, eight rebounds and two steals for the Dragons (12-10, 6-4). Justin Moore added 13 points, two steals and three blocks for Drexel. Luke House also recorded 11 points.
Elon visits Stony Brook on Thursday.
Appalachian State 63, Arkansas State 51
BOONE — Terence Harcum’s 15 points helped Appalachian State defeat Arkansas State 63-51 on Saturday night.
Harcum was 6-of-14 shooting (3 for 7 from distance) for the Mountaineers (13-10, 6-4 Sun Belt Conference). CJ Huntley added 13 points and also had nine rebounds and three blocks. Justin Abson finished with 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Omar El-Sheikh led the way for the Red Wolves (9-14, 1-9) with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Avery Felts added 11 points for Arkansas State. In addition, Julian Lual had 10 points. The loss was the Red Wolves’ ninth in a row.
Appalachian State hosts Marshall on Thursday.
Monmouth 79, NC A&T 64
GREENSBORO — Tahron Allen scored 23 points and Monmouth snapped a 12-game losing streak with a 79-64 victory over North Carolina A&T on Saturday.
Allen added nine rebounds for the Hawks (2-20, 1-8 Colonial Athletic Association). Jack Collins had 16 points and Klemen Vuga scored 14.
Marcus Watson led the Aggies (11-13, 6-5) with 25 points and seven rebounds. Demetric Horton added 13 points.
NC A&T travels to play UNC Wilmington on Thursday.
