WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — In an exciting college basketball matchup on Wednesday night, Hunter Sallis led the Wake Forest Demon Deacons to an impressive victory over the Stanford Cardinal, finishing the game with a personal high of 30 points. With just under five minutes remaining, the Demon Deacons took command of the game, outpacing their opponents to a final score of 80-67.
A crucial moment in the game came when Tre’Von Spillers scored with a hook shot at the 4:49 mark, increasing Wake Forest’s lead to 66-63. Following that pivotal point, the team launched into a strong final surge, clinching the game with a 16-4 scoring run. Sallis was particularly efficient, hitting 12 of his 17 shots from the field and contributing the three 3-pointers that the team made throughout the match. Spillers had a standout performance as well, scoring 18 points while also securing 10 rebounds. Cameron Hildreth added his contributions by going a perfect 10 of 10 from the free-throw line and finishing the night with 12 points.
The Cardinal were led by Oziyah Sellers, who scored 16 points, while Jaylen Blakes contributed 15 points to the effort. Maxime Raynaud also made his mark, finishing the game with 14 points and 11 rebounds, with Ryan Agarwal matching his score of 14 points. The first half saw Sellers and Blakes each score 13 points, helping Stanford secure a narrow 35-33 lead at halftime. The Cardinal managed to maintain a slight advantage, holding a 54-53 lead early in the second half before the Demon Deacons began their decisive run.
During the game, Wake Forest’s shooting percentages highlighted the contrast between the two halves. The Demon Deacons struggled a bit in the first half, hitting only 12 of 32 shots (37.5%), but they rebounded in the second half, connecting on 17 of 26 attempts for an impressive 65% efficiency.
This encounter between Wake Forest and Stanford was only the second in their histories, with Stanford having previously won a matchup in the NCAA Tournament back in 1997. As the Demon Deacons continue their season, they will aim to extend their current four-game winning streak when they travel to Virginia Tech on Saturday. Meanwhile, Stanford will face the challenge of playing against North Carolina the same day.
