Wake Forest trounces Virginia Tech in ACC opener, 80-61

Dec 3, 2021, 11:27 PM | Updated: Dec 4, 2021, 1:31 pm

New Virginia Tech Football head coach Brent Pry addresses fans in the first half of the Wake Forest Virginia Tech NCAA college basketball game in Blacksburg, Va. Saturday, Dec. 4 2021. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)

(Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP)

BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Daivien Williamson tossed in 19 points and Dallas Walton scored 17 as Wake Forest pulled away in the second half to beat Virginia Tech 80-61 in an Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday.

Williamson scored 11 points in the second half to help the Demon Deacons (8-1) turn a 38-34 lead at intermission into a rout. Williamson sank 8 of 14 shots, including 3 of 6 from behind the 3-point line, as Wake Forest shot 63% from the floor and 44% from distance (7 of 16). Walton knocked down 7 of 10 shots against Virginia Tech’s stout defense. The Hokies came in yielding just 53.4 points per game — second best in the nation.

Jake LaRavia pitched in with 10 points and seven rebounds for Wake Forest. Alondes Williams contributed 10 points, nine assists and seven rebounds, but he also had six of the Deacons’ 10 turnovers.

Keve Aluma paced Virginia Tech (6-3) with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists. He scored just five points in the second half. Justyn Mutts added 15 points. Aluma and Mutts — the Hokies’ only two players averaging in double figures — combined to make 15 of 26 shots from the floor. The rest of the Hokies sank only 8 of 30 shots (27%).

Wake Forest outscored Virginia Tech 48-28 in the paint. The Hokies lost for the first time in their last five ACC home openers and saw a four-game win streak at home end. The Demon Deacons snapped a six-game skid against Virginia Tech and lead the all-time series 39-31.

___

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and http://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE - Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago