Cameron Hildreth led Wake Forest to a successful 76-66 win against California on Saturday, scoring 23 points. Hunter Sallis contributed significantly with 20 points, and Efton Reid added 19 points to help the Demon Deacons (18-6, 10-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) extend their winning streak to three games. Hildreth demonstrated his shooting prowess by making 8 of 11 field goals and hitting a 3-pointer, along with converting 6 of 7 free throw attempts. Sallis not only scored but also facilitated the game with eight assists, while Reid shot impressively, connecting on 8 of 9 attempts, including two 3-pointers. Wake Forest began this trip with a victory over Stanford (79-73) and has now triumphed in 9 of its last 11 outings.

For the Golden Bears (12-12, 5-8), Jeremiah Wilkinson was the standout player, scoring 21 points, nailing three 3-pointers and going 10 for 11 from the foul line. Jovan Blacksher added 12 points while Andrej Stojakovic contributed 10 points. Mady Sissoko played a notable role as well, gathering nine points and ten rebounds.

During the game, Hildreth, Sallis, and Reid were instrumental in scoring, accumulating nine points each and making up 27 of Wake Forest’s 31 points in the first half. Blacksher’s performance included a strong three-for-four shooting from beyond the arc, allowing California to be just two points behind at halftime.

At the start of the second half, Wilkinson tied the game with two free throws, but Wake Forest quickly responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by Omaha Biliew’s inside score and Reid’s 3-pointer, stretching the lead to 50-42. Shortly after, Wilkinson attempted to ignite a comeback with another 3-pointer, but it ultimately wasn’t enough to close the gap.

The last encounter between these teams dates back to the 2000 NIT semifinals, where Wake Forest secured a 76-59 win. Looking ahead, Wake Forest is set to host Florida State on Wednesday, while California will face a challenging matchup against No. 2 Duke on the same day.