Hunter Sallis had 20 points and nine rebounds and Ty-Laur Johnson scored nine of his 12 points in the second half to lead Wake Forest over SMU 77-66 on Saturday in Dallas.
The Mustangs (19-6, 10-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) had their impressive win streak snapped by the Demon Deacons, who brought their A-game in the second half to secure a crucial victory on the road.
Wake Forest struggled to find their footing in the first half, with SMU's defense proving to be a formidable challenge. However, the Demon Deacons regrouped and refocused during the break, emerging from the locker room with renewed energy and determination.
Sallis was instrumental in Wake Forest's second-half surge, using his quickness and agility to evade SMU's defenders and get to the rim. Johnson also made his presence felt, knocking down key shots and playing tenacious defense to help his team pull away.
Despite their best efforts, the Mustangs were unable to stem the tide, as Wake Forest's offense continued to click and their defense tightened. The Demon Deacons outscored SMU by a significant margin in the second half, turning a close contest into a convincing victory.
The win was a significant boost for Wake Forest, who had been looking to bounce back from a tough stretch. The Demon Deacons will look to build on this momentum as they head into the final stretch of the season, while SMU will aim to regroup and refocus after having their win streak snapped.
For Sallis and Johnson, the outing was a testament to their skill and versatility. The duo formed a potent one-two punch, with Sallis using his speed and agility to create scoring opportunities and Johnson providing a steady presence in the paint.
As the Atlantic Coast Conference season heats up, Wake Forest's victory over SMU serves as a reminder that anything can happen on any given night. The Demon Deacons will look to carry this momentum forward, while the Mustangs will aim to learn from their mistakes and come back stronger than ever.