Tracy Smith went off for 23 points and 10 rebounds as North Carolina State dominated Wake Forest, 90-69, on Saturday in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both schools.

C.J. Leslie added 19 points and C.J. Williams finished with 16 for the Wolfpack (11-4, 1-0 ACC).

North Carolina State closed the first half on a 12-3 run to take a 40-30 edge into the break. Smith poured in 10 points in opening period and the Wolfpack held a 22-12 edge on the boards. Smith was playing in just his third game since returning from an injury that kept him out for most of December.

Wake Forest (7-9, 0-1) kept it within shouting distance for the first few minutes of the second half, drawing as close as 40-36 right out of the break. But North Carolina State proved to be too much, pushing the lead back to double digits and putting it away with a 22-11 burst midway through the period.

With No. 1 Duke the lone ranked team out of the ACC at the moment, the Wolfpack have as good a shot as any team of jumping up and grabbing the No. 2 spot in the conference. Winner of five straight, NC State will get tested next week with trips to Boston College and Florida State before coming home for a showdown with Duke on Jan. 19.