Wake Forest Triumphs in Overtime Against Virginia Tech
In an exhilarating opening round of the ACC Tournament, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons triumphed over Virginia Tech in overtime, securing a 95-89 victory at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Myles Colvin emerged as a key player for Wake Forest, contributing 18 points, while showcasing the team’s depth with seven players scoring in double figures.
Game Overview
Coming into the tournament as the 13th seed, Wake Forest (17-15) demonstrated offensive prowess, shooting 51% from the field (30 of 59), despite struggling with their three-point shooting at 36% (8 of 22). The Demon Deacons’ next challenge will be against fifth-seeded Clemson on Wednesday.
Virginia Tech, seeded 12th (19-13), showed strong performances from several players. Ben Hammond led the Hokies with 23 points, supported by Jailen Bedford with 17, Jaden Schutt, who came off the bench for 15 points, and Tobi Lawal, who added 12 points along with a team-high nine rebounds. The Hokies managed a respectable 41% shooting accuracy (29 of 70) but were unable to overcome Wake’s offensive efficiency.
Overtime Highlights
In a gripping overtime period, Colvin initiated the scoring with a jump shot and a three-pointer, giving the Demon Deacons a promising 80-75 lead. Although Lawal’s dunk closed the gap to 86-85 with just over a minute remaining, Sebastian Akins responded with a three-point play to cement Wake Forest’s lead as they never looked back.
The game was tightly contested throughout, with Wake holding a narrow 38-34 advantage at halftime. To force the game into overtime, Hammond executed two critical free throws with 47 seconds remaining in regulation, tying the game at 75. Both teams were unable to score again before heading to overtime, setting the stage for Wake’s eventual victory.
Conclusion
This thrilling encounter not only highlights Wake Forest’s potential in the tournament but also marks a significant moment for their program as they continue their pursuit of additional victories in the postseason.
