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

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.

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