Tyree Appleby, Wake Forest too strong for Virginia Tech

Tyree Appleby scored 24 points and Wake Forest held on to defeat visiting Virginia Tech 77-75 on Saturday afternoon in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Andrew Carr recorded 14 points and Daivien Williamson added 12 for the Demon Deacons (10-4, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference).

Wake Forest made 11 shots from 3-point range to nearly double Virginia Tech's point total from beyond the arc.

Sean Pedulla and Justyn Mutts each scored 18 points for Virginia Tech (11-3, 1-2), which lost its second straight game and fell to 0-3 overall in true road games.

Virginia Tech was hurt by 13 turnovers compared to seven giveaways by Wake Forest.

Boosted by an 8-0 run early in the second half, Wake Forest opened a 52-42 lead. Carr scored six points during that stretch with a 3-point basket and a three-point play.

Virginia Tech bounced back to pull within 60-58, aided by five consecutive points from reserve forward Mylyjael Poteat.

Two 3-pointers from Williamson allowed the Demon Deacons to regain control before Appleby connected from long range to make it 72-64.

The Hokies rallied again, closing to 72-70 with 2:15 to play on Mutts' basket. The next three points came on Appleby free throws.

Grant Basile's 3-pointer with one minute left gave the Hokies a chance. But the Demon Deacons tracked down an offensive rebound that otherwise would have given Virginia Tech a chance to tie or take the lead. Damari Monsanto's two foul shots helped clinch the outcome before Darius Maddox's basket at the buzzer.

The score was 38-38 at the break despite both teams struggling with shooting. Virginia Tech made 40 percent of its first-half shots, though it benefitted from 10-for-12 shooting on free throws.

Wake Forest, which trailed 18-10, checked in at 36.4 percent for the opening 20 minutes. The Demon Deacons were charged with only one turnover in the first half.