Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 24 points as No. 9 Virginia Tech remained perfect at home by posting an 87-71 victory over Wake Forest on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference play at Blacksburg, Va.
Alexander-Walker shot 7 of 12 from the field and Ty Outlaw made 4 of 5 from 3-point range to highlight his 14-point performance for the Hokies (15-2, 4-1 ACC), who made 11 of 26 3-point attempts and shot 56.9 percent from the field.
Justin Robinson finished with 13 points as Virginia Tech rebounded after seeing its nine-game winning streak halted in Tuesday's 81-59 setback versus Virginia. The Hokies improved to 10-0 at Cassell Coliseum this season.
Brandon Childress scored 18 of his career high-tying 28 points in the second half for the Demon Deacons (8-9, 1-4), who answered their 71-67 victory over 16th-ranked North Carolina State by falling for the sixth time in eight outings. The junior guard also scored 28 points in a 92-79 setback to Georgia Tech on Jan. 5.
The Hokies, who entered the contest by shooting ACC-best 41.8 percent from 3-point range, found their stroke from long range as Outlaw, Robinson and Ahmed Hill converted from beyond the arc to highlight a 12-4 run and give Virginia Tech a 29-21 lead.
The advantage ballooned to 12 at 36-24 with 3:18 left in the first half after Hill weaved through the defense before making a left-handed layup. Wake Forest began to chip away before a foul at halfcourt led to Robinson making a pair of free throws to give Virginia Tech a 42-32 halftime advantage.
Wake Forest made 14 of 20 free-throw attempts in the first half to remain within striking distance, but Virginia Tech's Wabissa Bede, Outlaw and Alexander-Walker each drilled a 3-pointer during a 91-second stretch early in the second as Virginia Tech went on a 14-3 run to claim 64-44 advantage.
The Demon Deacons trimmed their deficit to 10 at 73-63 with 5:39 left, but the Hokies drained their free throws to improve to 6-1 in the last seven games in the series.
--Field Level Media
Wake Forest | Virginia Tech | |
Brandon Childress 28 | Scoring | Nickeil Alexander-Walker 24 |
Chaundee Brown 3 | Assists | Wabissa Bede 5 |
Jaylen Hoard 7 | Rebounds | Nickeil Alexander-Walker 7 |
Brandon Childress 9 | Free Throws Made | Nickeil Alexander-Walker 7 |
Brandon Childress 2 | Steals | Ty Outlaw 2 |
N/A | Blocks | Kerry Blackshear Jr. 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Wake Forest | 71 | 37.5 | 8-24 | 27-38 | 8 | 30 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
Virginia Tech | 87 | 56.9 | 11-26 | 18-22 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 8 | 11 |