Cameron Hildreth scored 21 points and host Wake Forest finally overcame Charleston Southern with a strong finish in a 71-56 victory Friday afternoon in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Kevin Miller added 14 points and Hunter Sallis and Andrew Carr each scored 12 for Wake Forest, which trailed by four at halftime. The Demon Deacons (3-3) pulled away from a 57-49 lead in the final 3 1/2 minutes.
DJ Patrick had 13 points, Taje' Kelly posted 12 points and 11 rebounds and A'lahn Sumler had 10 points for Charleston Southern (2-4), which lost its third game in a row.
Wake Forest shot 43.8 percent from the field, including 5-for-14 on 3-pointers. Sallis had two 3-point baskets.
A 24-for-27 performance on free throws was critical, including 8-for-8 from Hildreth and 7-for-8 from Carr, who also had 10 rebounds.
The Buccaneers pulled within 51-46 on Sumler's 3-pointer, but the Demon Deacons answered with an 8-3 run capped by Carr's dunk.
The lead was 62-51 after Carr's 3-pointer with 1:58 to play.
Charleston Southern shot 37.3 percent from the field and committed 15 turnovers.
Wake Forest had only seven points from its reserves.
Charleston Southern led for about 21 consecutive minutes in a stretch bridging the first and second halves. The Buccaneers were up 39-32 with 15 1/2 minutes remaining.
Wake Forest scored seven straight points -- all on foul shots -- for a 47-41 lead, going ahead with 11:08 left on two Carr free throws.
Charleston Southern led 32-28 at halftime, though the Buccaneers were up 30-20 with three minutes left in the half.
Wake Forest shot 40 percent from the field in the opening half. Each team had four made free throws and four 3-point baskets to go with six turnovers apiece before intermission.
The Demon Deacons have topped the Buccaneers in two of the last three seasons for a 4-0 series lead.
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