Overview
- The Demon Deacons won their season opener 83-62 after pulling away late in a game played Monday night in Winston-Salem.
- Freshman Gavin Placide led Wake Forest with 20 points and seven rebounds while Kevair Kennedy just missed a triple-double with 14 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
- A decisive 20-0 run in the second half closed out the game and was sparked by a three-point play from Kennedy and a 3 from Justin Ray.
- Wake Forest leaned on pressure defense and transition scoring, converting 31 points off turnovers, scoring 25 fast-break points and shooting 52.6% from the floor overall.
- Maryland Eastern Shore’s Bobby Gardner scored 30 points for the Hawks, but reporters note the win may be misleading because the opponent was thin on returning players and Wake Forest’s system will be tested at Vanderbilt.