WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — In a stunning display on Tuesday evening, Hunter Sallis emerged as a key player for Wake Forest, scoring 15 of his total 20 points in the second half. Alongside him, Cameron Hildreth contributed significantly with 18 points and six assists, leading the Demon Deacons to an 82-69 victory over Western Carolina.
Parker Friedrichsen also made a notable impact, sinking four of the team’s total 12 three-pointers and finishing with 14 points. Both teams exhibited a similar shooting percentage of 43% from the floor; however, Wake Forest (5-1) capitalized on Western Carolina’s struggles, converting 22 points from 21 turnovers.
Western Carolina (2-2) had standout performances from Cord Stansberry and Ice Emery, each scoring 20 points. The game saw a significant shift in momentum when Wake Forest began the first half strong, hitting four three-pointers, two of which came from Friedrichsen. Hildreth then converted a crucial three-point play, followed by Sallis’s jumper, which helped ignite a dominant 22-3 run. This stretch established a commanding 36-20 lead for Wake Forest with just over five minutes left in the first half.
Responding to the challenge, Stansberry scored eight points, including two three-pointers during a 12-3 surge, pulling Western Carolina back to within seven points. Nevertheless, Wake Forest maintained the upper hand, going into halftime with a 44-34 lead.
The second half continued to see intensity as Stansberry once again connected from beyond the arc, narrowing the score to 48-46, but the Catamounts could not bring the deficit any closer. Sallis started a decisive 20-5 run following a jumper that significantly shifted the momentum back to the Demon Deacons. Churchill Abass’s basket in the paint capped off the run, granting Wake Forest their largest lead of the game at 74-50.
Sallis, who previously played for Gonzaga, reached a personal milestone during the match, hitting a jumper that brought his career points to 1,000. He now boasts a total of 1,015 points, with 714 of those amassed while playing for Wake Forest.