Furious rally falls short, No. 17 State loses at Wake Forest, 71-67

The Wolfpack fell to 2-2 in the conference.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Freshman Jaylen Hoard had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Wake Forest blew a 22-point lead before recovering in time to top No. 17 North Carolina State 71-67 on Tuesday.

Graduate transfer Torry Johnson added 11 points for the Demon Deacons (8-8, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference). That included a critical jumper with 1:19 left in a one-point game, along with two free throws with 13.3 seconds left that helped the Demon Deacons (barely) survive a wild night in Winston-Salem.

Wake Forest led 42-27 at halftime, and then 51-29 with a flurry out of the break. But the Wolfpack (14-3, 2-2) made a move with 15 straight points to get back in it, and then fought all the way back to tie it at 58 on Devon Daniels' floater with 7:46 left.

North Carolina State's C.J. Bryce (13) drives against Wake Forest's Torry Johnson (4) and Olivier Sarr (30),AP

North Carolina State coach Kevin Keatts shouts to his team during the second half.AP

North Carolina State's Wyatt Walker (33) is trapped by Wake Forest's Isaiah Mucius (1) and Ikenna Smart (35).AP

North Carolina State's Torin Dorn (2) drives against Wake Forest's Ikenna Smart (35).AP

Wake Forest head coach Danny Manning directs his team.AP

Wake Forest's Brandon Childress (0) is fouled as he drives between North Carolina State's Blake Harris (55) and Jericole Hellems (4).AP

North Carolina State's Torin Dorn (2) dunks against Wake Forest during the first half.AP

North Carolina State's Torin Dorn (2) drives past Wake Forest's Ikenna Smart during the second half.AP

North Carolina State's Wyatt Walker (33) collides with Wake Forest's Ikenna Smart.AP

Torin Dorn had 18 points for N.C. State, while C.J. Bryce added 17 points.

BIG PICTURE

N.C. State: Point guard Markell Johnson didn't travel with the team after taking a hard fall during a win against Pittsburgh. And the Wolfpack looked out of sorts early by launching a lot of 3-pointers while failing to force the Demon Deacons into turnovers.

The Wolfpack looked much sharper in their desperate comeback, but couldn't come up with a play or two more to steal this one.

Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons were positioned to celebrate, and then staring down a soul-crushing collapse before finding away to hang on. It was a desperately needed win for Danny Manning's club.

UP NEXT

N.C. State visits Notre Dame on Saturday.

Wake Forest visits No. 9 Virginia Tech on Saturday.

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