Chase Hunter was one of five players to score in double figures for No. 25 Clemson in a 73-62 victory over visiting Wake Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Hunter finished with 16 points and went 4 of 6 from 3-point range to lead the Tigers (10-3, 2-0 ACC) to a bounce-back victory after consecutive overtime defeats.
Jake Heidbreder added 15 points for the Tigers, Viktor Lakhin tallied 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists, Jaeden Zackery had 12 points, six assists and five steals, and Ian Schieffelin scored 13 points.
Wake Forest (9-4, 1-1) was powered by 26 points from Hunter Sallis, while Cameron Hildreth chipped in 15 points.
Sallis knocked down back-to-back mid-range jumpers to open the game, giving Wake Forest an early four-point lead, but Clemson grabbed the advantage and pulled away with an 18-4 run midway through the first half. Heidbreder had eight points during that span, knocking down two free throws and a pair of 3-pointers.
In the second half, Clemson used an 18-6 run to take a 20-point lead at 71-51, its biggest of the game. That stretch was highlighted by Hunter connecting on a trio of 3-pointers. Clemson led for the game’s final 34 minutes.
The Tigers shot 10 of 31 from 3-point range (32.3 percent) for the game while holding Wake to 3 of 13 (23.1 percent). It’s the seventh time this season Clemson has held an opponent under 30 percent shooting from behind the arc as they improved to 6-1 in those contests.
Clemson also forced Wake into 19 turnovers and scored 35 points off those miscues. The Tigers had 12 turnovers and 17 assists on 24 made baskets. Clemson has yet to have a game in which it has more turnovers than assists this season.
A season ago, Wake Forest was 2-9 in road games. So far this year, they’re 0-3 in true road contests, losing each by double digits.
The Deacs remain on the road for their next contest, playing at Syracuse on New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, the Tigers host Stanford on New Year’s Day.
–Field Level Media
