CLEMSON, S.C. – The Wake Forest men’s basketball team fell to Clemson, 77-57, in its ACC opener on Friday evening inside Littlejohn Coliseum.
The Demon Deacons (7-2, 0-1 ACC) were led by Winston-Salem native Daivien Williamson with 12 points on 5-of-11 from the field, his fourth double-digit scoring game of the season. Williamson was one of three Deacs to connect on at least two triples on Friday night.
Cameron Hildreth joined Williamson in double figures with 11 points on three made field goals and four free throws. In addition to his 11 points, Hildreth joined Andrew Carr with a team-high tying six rebounds.
Additionally, Tyree Appleby and Damari Monsanto added eight points apiece as the duo both registered three made baskets, two of which came from behind the arc.
Overall, Wake Forest knocked down at least eight three pointers for the seventh game this season. In the first half, the Deacs connected on 6-of-15 attempts from deep to help them jump out to a 33-26 lead at the intermission.
Coming into the conference opener, Wake Forest’s mark of 8.75 three-pointers made per game was tied for second-best in the ACC.
The Demon Deacon reserves provided an impactful spark off as Wake Forest’s bench outscored Clemson’s by a 22-4 mark.
Additionally, Wake Forest poured in 24 points off turnovers, double Clemson’s tally (12).
How It Happened
- Appleby got the Deacs on the board with a step-back three-pointer.
- Hildreth followed suit on the very next possession with a jump shot down low to give Wake Forest the 5-4 lead at the 16-minute mark.
- With an Andrew Carr hook shot and a Matthew Marsh slam, the Deacs scored on four consecutive possessions for a 9-6 lead at the under-16 media timeout.
- Marsh converted on an and-one after a monster block on the other end for a 12-8 Deacon lead with 13:29 left in the half.
- Klintman extended the lead, 15-9, with a wide open three from the left wing ahead of the under-12 media timeout.
- The defense held Clemson scoreless for 2:48 ahead of the break.
- A Klintman to Bradford slam maintained the Wake Forest lead and ended a short Clemson run to keep the Deacs up 17-13 at the 10-minute mark.
- Williamson continued the momentum on the next possession with his first three of the game to extend the lead 20-16.
- Clemson tied it at 20 going into the under-8 media timeout.
- Williamson ended a Wake Forest scoring drought with his second three of the half to go up 23-20 at the 7-minute mark.
- He followed it up with a fastbreak layup on the very next possession to extend the lead to five.
- The defense held Clemson scoreless for over two minutes for the second time in the half.
- Another stepback three for Appleby put the Deacs up eight with five minutes left to play in the first half
- The defense extended the Clemson drought to three and a half minutes.
- A driving layup from Carr gave the Deacs their largest lead of the half, 30-22, with three minutes remaining.
- Monsanto’s first three of the half came with less than a minute left to put the Deacs ahead 33-26.
- Wake Forest went into halftime with the seven-point lead.
- Williamson led the Deacs with eight points on 3-of-5 shooting. Carr and Hildreth each had four rebounds and Appleby led with a game-high three assists.
- Hildreth got the scoring going for the Deacs in the second half with a fastbreak reverse layup off a Keller steal on the other end.
- Hildreth ended a Clemson run with a three and the foul to tie it at 39 at the under-16 media timeout.
- A wide-open step back three from Williamson ended a Wake Forest drought to bring the score to 44-41, Clemson leading, at the under-12 media timeout.
- Williamson again ended a run by the Tigers with a baseline jumper and closed the gap to 47-43 at the 10:29 mark.
- Free throws kept the Deacs in the game, as Wake Forest went 6-for-6 from the line in a three-minute span.
- A Monsanto three cut the deficit to 10 at the 2:36 mark.
- Wake Forest fell to Clemson, 77-57.
Coach’s Comments
“All of the credit goes to Clemson; they turned the game. They shot 70 percent in the second half. We did a good job of guarding them in the first half, but once they got away from our bench, they did a really good job of cutting us. We got above them too much defensively. PJ Hall made some big plays, made a couple of threes. We were taking away some other things so credit to him for stepping up and making them. We were there a few times, but he just made them. They were just the tougher and more physical team and that really showed in the second half. Offensively, we got sped up, didn’t shoot it well and didn’t get to the line. They played a really good second half and I think they have a really good basketball team. They have great balance. They can score, they can defend and they’re big, so all the credit goes to Clemson.” – head coach Steve Forbes
Up Next
The Deacs will stay on the road next week, traveling to Atlanta to take on the LSU Tigers in a neutral site battle as part of Holiday Hoopsgiving at State Farm Arena.
Wake Forest will face LSU on Saturday, December 10 at 2 p.m. in Atlanta and we want you to join us. Buy tickets using the password “GODEACS” in sections 112, 115, 116, 117, or 118 to sit with other Demon Deacon alumni and fans.
There will also be a pre-game reception at Hudson Grille Downtown across the street from the arena from 12-1:30 p.m. Fans can register here. We can’t wait to see you in DEACTOWN Atlanta!
Wake Forest will return home to face Appalachian State on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. inside LJVM Coliseum. Tickets for that game can be purchased here.
