Wake Forest jumps out early in the 2nd half and cruises past SMU 77-66

DALLAS (AP) — Hunter Sallis scored 12 of his 20 points before halftime and Wake Forest ended SMU’s five-game win streak with a 77-66 victory on Saturday night.

Wake Forest (19-7, 11-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) rebounded from a 72-70 loss against Florida State on Wednesday night and has won four of its last five games.

Sallis was just 4 of 15 from the field but shot 11 of 14 from the free-throw line and grabbed nine rebounds to go with six assists. Parker Friedrichsen made five 3-pointers and finished with 18 points for Wake Forest. Ty-Laur Johnson scored 12 points and Efton Reid had 10. Tre’Von Spillers added eight points and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Demon Deacons opened the second half on a 19-8 run for a 51-40 lead with 13:44 remaining. Spillers scored six points, Harris added four points that included a dunk, and Sallis hit a 3 during the stretch. SMU pulled with three points, 51-48, a few minutes later but didn’t get closer.

Chuck Harris scored 15 points for SMU (19-6, 10-4). Kario Oquendo added 13 points, B.J. Edwards had 12 and Matt Cross 11. The Mustangs shot 36% (22 of 61) from the field and 8 of 35 (23%) from distance. Harris and Cross each made three 3s.