Wake Forest vs. N.C State

Wake Forest Demon Deacons -11 1/2 vs. North Carolina State Wolfpack

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In the hotly contested ACC race, any stumble could cost a team. Wake Forest has seen their fortunes change almost more than any other team in the conference. Once a number one team who upset another number one team, the Demon Deacons have not been playing their best basketball of late and has slid to the 13th ranking in the country. They will attempt to get back on the winning track at home, were they are virtually unbeatable, when they face in-state rival North Carolina State on Thursday.

While a very effective 13-1 at home, Wake Forests slide has had a lot to do with their inability to win on the road, going 5-4 in road games, including their most recent game, a 101-91 loss at Duke on Monday. They have dropped four straight road contests after opening 2-0 in ACC road contests and have slid to fifth in the stacked conference. Duke shot 54.1 percent, unusually high for Wake Forests usually prolific defense.

Along the way the Demon Deacons were upset by the Wolfpack on February 11th 82-76 in Raleigh. It was a particularly disappointing game for Wake Forest because they out played N.C. State in almost every category. They held the shot percentage advantage 50.0 to 42.6 percent, but were dominated at the free-throw line, 23-9.

A victory over the Wolfpack (15-10, 5-7) would have been big for the Deacons who have now lost four out of the last five games in the series although Wake Forest has been a different team on their home court this season, having lost only to North Carolina in Winston-Salem.

The Wolfpack are shooting much better, 55.9 percent, including 50.9 from beyond the arc, over the past three games. In their most recent game, they beat Virginia 72-67 in a home game on Saturday.

N.C. State is 2-6 in road games this season.

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