WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) – Efton Reid III and Cameron Hildreth each made free throws in the final 30 seconds to help Wake Forest hold off Boston College 72-66 in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener on Saturday .
Wake Forest (8-3) bounced back from a 57-44 loss to No. 22 Texas A&M in the ACC/SEC Challenge and is now 16-12 all-time in regular-season matchups of the ACC with the Eagles (6-4).
The teams were tied at 55-55 after Parker Friedrichsen fouled Fred Payne in the backcourt with 9:04 left, and the sophomore made all three free throws. Hildreth answered by hitting 3-of-4 from the line, and Friedrichsen knocked down a 3 to put the Deacons up for good, 59-55.
Elijah Strong hit two free throws with 35 seconds left to pull the Eagles within two, 68-66, then forced a layup and sent Payne to the line, but he missed the free throw and Reid went down with the rebound and hit both free throws. . Hildreth rebounded an errant 3 by Strong and hit both free throws to seal the win.
Hildreth led the Demon Deacons with a season-high 22 points and 10 rebounds, going 14-of-18 from the free throw line. Juke Harris went 3-for-5 from beyond the arc and added 12 points off the bench, and Reid and Tre’Von Spillers each scored 11 points. Wake Forest was 21-for-47 from the field (44.7%) and 25-for-34 from the line.
Boston College was just 21-of-57 from the field (36.8%), but knocked down 12-of-30 from beyond the arc. Strong finished with 18 points, hitting 4-of-9 from deep. Donald Hand Jr. he was 3-for-8 from distance and scored 13 points. Payne added 12 points.
Wake Forest hosts James Madison on Dec. 17, while Boston College hosts Stonehill on Dec. 15.
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