ACC Basketball Recap: SMU 91, Wake Forest 79

The takeaway: SMU took control midway through the first half and never let Wake Forest fully recover, rolling to a 91–79 road win in Winston-Salem. The Mustangs rode a star performance from B.J. Edwards and a balanced supporting effort — plus dominant shooting and the glass — to close out a convincing non-conference victory that exposed Wake’s defensive lapses and rebounding shortfalls. (ESPN.com)

Score & line

• Final: SMU 91, Wake Forest 79. (Halftime: SMU 45, Wake Forest 36.) (ESPN.com)
• Records after the game: SMU improved to 14–5 (3–3 ACC); Wake Forest fell to 11–8 (2–4 ACC). (Reuters)

Key stats

• Team shooting & rebounds: SMU shot efficiently (about 50% from the field) and drilled a high clip from deep, while out-rebounding Wake Forest 40–28 — the extra possessions and efficient look-creation were decisive. (Reuters)
• Turnovers & assists: SMU moved the ball well (multi-player assist totals and 20+ team assists reported in game stories) and converted Wake Forest miscues into transition points; Wake’s turnovers were costly in stretches. (SMU Athletics)

Top performers:

• B.J. Edwards (SMU): 24 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 6 steals — a near-triple-double and a defensive impact night that swung possessions. Edwards’ all-around game set the tone. (Reuters)
• Boopie Miller (SMU): 12 points and 6 assists — steady playmaking and tempo control. Jaron Pierre Jr. added 13 points; Jaden Toombs finished with 10 points and 9 rebounds. (Reuters)
• Juke Harris (Wake Forest): Team-high 27 points — a heroic scoring night in defeat. (Wake Forest University Athletics)
• Tre’Von Spillers (Wake): 19 points; Myles Colvin chipped in 17 — Wake had offensive punches but couldn’t claw back consistently. (Wake Forest University Athletics)

Game flow — the moments that mattered

• SMU grabs control midway through the first half: After an early exchange of baskets, SMU closed the first half on a sustained run, turning a one-possession game into a 9- to 12-point halftime advantage. The Mustangs’ ball movement and hot perimeter shooting forced Wake into tougher shots and helped SMU lead 45–36 at the break. (ESPN.com)
• Second-half separation: SMU widened the margin in the second half by converting turnovers into quick points and getting high-percentage looks inside. Their efficiency — both in the paint and from deep — kept Wake Forest at bay even when Wake tried to stage rallies. (SMU Athletics)
• Edwards’ two-way impact: Several possessions swung on Edwards’ hands — timely steals that led to transition buckets and late assists that opened the floor. His presence forced Wake to alter rotations and created room for role players to get open looks. (Reuters)
• Late push fell short: Wake Forest trimmed the margin in spurts — an 8-0 run after SMU had begun to sit some starters narrowed the gap — but SMU’s depth and rebound advantage allowed them to close the game out without a stomach-churning finish. (Reuters)

Player & coaching notes

• Wake Forest offense vs. defensive breakdowns: Offensively, the Deacons got strong scoring nights from Harris, Spillers and Colvin, but defensive breakdowns on transition possessions and missed defensive rotations on the perimeter repeatedly punished them. Against a team that shoots well and moves the ball, those lapses are magnified. (Wake Forest University Athletics)
• SMU balance and bench play: Beyond Edwards, SMU’s bench and supporting cast (Miller, Pierre Jr., Toombs) made timely plays — assists jumped, and multiple players knocked down threes — helping the Mustangs sustain leads and avoid frantic late-game collapses. SMU’s staff had the team well-prepared schematically and executed in situational basketball. (SMU Athletics)

Why Wake Forest lost

1. Rebounding deficit: Losing the glass 40–28 handed SMU extra possessions and second-chance points that proved hard to overcome. (Reuters)
2. SMU’s offensive efficiency: The Mustangs shot at a very high clip and converted open looks created by Edwards and their ball-movement, limiting Wake’s margin for error. (SMU Athletics)
3. Turnovers at key moments: Wake’s turnovers in transition and at the rim translated to quick SMU scores and swung momentum away during pivotal stretches. (Wake Forest University Athletics)

Quick look ahead

Wake Forest will regroup as ACC play ramps up and faces a stiff upcoming test on the road (a showdown with Duke looms on the schedule), while SMU heads back into league play buoyed by a signature non-conference road victory. Both teams will use the film from this one to tighten up on fundamentals — Wake on defensive rotations and rebounding, SMU on continuing to share the ball and protect leads. (Reuters)