WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Wake Forest’s Tuesday loss to Florida State was a bump in the road, but if it carried over to Saturday, it could have been much larger. Instead, the Deacons flipped the table, shooting 50% against one of the best defenses in the nation, and holding Virginia to 28.1% from the floor en route to a 66-47 second-half beatdown.
“I think we learned a lot about our team,” Andrew Carr said postgame. “It’s not always going to be easy, especially [when] you win nine in a row. You kind of forget what the feeling is like when you lose. We definitely took that hard…we were ready to move on.
“Coming away from that game, we [had to] be able to really impose our identity into the game, and I felt like we did a good job of that, especially in the second half.”
Saturday was also a time for Carr to forget, and move past, some of his own struggles during a three-game skid. Other than the game-sealing three-pointer against Boston College, Carr had a hard time scoring, going a combined 5-14 from the field. In particular, physicality was not up to standards on both sides of the court.
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Not so against Virginia. Carr knocked down four shots from the field, pulled down 12 rebounds and played strong defense in 34 minutes of action. It was his first double-double in ACC play this season, and much of it can be attributed to his aggression.
“I felt like today, the opportunity presented itself,” Carr said. “It definitely was a mindset to try and be as aggressive as possible attacking close-outs…I was coming into the game ready to take advantage of it and try to be physical in the paint.”
“I thought he played tremendous,” head coach Steve Forbes later added. “I told Andrew to get out of his head. Sometimes he’s a little too analytical…he gets down on himself more than I’ve ever been down on him.
“He does so many things. He gets a lot of those tough rebounds around the basket. He made some tough shots today. He guarded big guys, he guarded guards. He’s always covering up and helping. I think he’s a very integral part of our team.”
Though Wake Forest again labored with turnovers — posting 17 after giving up 20 against the Seminoles — it made up for ball-security with elite defense. The Deacs held Virginia, a team averaging 66 points per game, to 47 on 28% shooting. In the second half, where Wake Forest turned the game from close to comfortable, the Hoos shot under 24%.
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“Defensively, they put the game plan into the game today for 40 minutes,” Forbes said. “It was relentless. [The Cavaliers] have their struggles offensively, but they still make you guard them… you got to stay with it. And the moment you fall asleep, they’ll make you pay.
“Last year, they made 15 threes here. This year, we wanted to not let them attempt 15. They didn’t get 15 off. They got 12.”
Specifically, Wake Forest found success defending Virginia’s prolific guards — Reece Beekman and Isacc McKneely. The pair combined to go 5-22 from the field.
“I thought they did a good job,” Virginia head coach Tony Bennett said, referring to the guards. “They were physical. They got into them. If we didn’t set a good screen or we didn’t set them up, they just guarded us tough and hard. They made them earn.”
“I thought that our defensive effort was outstanding,” Forbes said. “For Hunter and Cameron [Hildreth] to chase those guys off the screens all game long like that, I don’t know if you realize how hard that is and what elite condition they have to be in to do that…Boopie was good too, now.”
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Miller, who mostly defended Beekman, held the primary scorer to just 10 points.
“I feel like he’s the engine for the team,” Miller said. “I feel like if I can get a couple stops on him, everybody else would play along with it.”
Miller finished the game with 15 points and seven assists on the offensive end.
Bennett also mentioned the size that Wake Forest had down low, which provided “backline support” on helps. That made “finishing over the rim” a challenge. Most notably, that applies to Carr’s play and Efton Reid, who finished with five blocks.
After scoring 10 against Florida State — his lowest as a Demon Deacon — along with recording four turnovers, Hunter Sallis came back with one of his best performances. The Gonzaga transfer finished with 23 points on 8/13 from the field and five threes. Additionally, Sallis pulled down nine rebounds to go with just one turnover and foul each.
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“I’m not sure I’ve had a player have a better overall game on both ends of the court since I’ve been here,” Forbes said. “Offense and defense. He did it all today…Hunter was at a different level, I thought, today.”
Sallis’ rebounds were a part of a complete effort from Wake Forest on the boards. To go with Carr’s 12 and Sallis’ nine, Reid notched eight and Zach Keller, who earned Forbes’ compliments, pulled down four. The Deacons outrebounded Virginia 40-27.
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Hunter Sallis (23) pulls up for a three-pointerEvan Harris/Blogger So Dear
Following a six-point halftime lead, Wake Forest stormed out of the locker room with a 10-2 run. From there, the Deacs never led by less than 11. A 12-5 late charge allowed Wake to walk away with the 19-point difference.
Now rated No. 37 in KenPom at the time of publication, Wake Forest faces off with NC State on Tuesday evening in Raleigh. Tip off is set for 7pm on ACC Network.
We’re highlighting the many threads that make Virginia so special
As we approach the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re embarking on a journey to celebrate the rich history of the place we call home. (WSLS 10)
Virginia is filled with so much history just waiting to be explored. As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States and Virginia, we’re celebrating this milestone with a new series: Patchwork 250.
The series will highlight the many threads that make Virginia so special and celebrate every patch (whether that’s a remarkable person, an unforgettable location or a memorable event).
As this new initiative gets underway, we’d love to hear from you. Share your favorite pieces of history and be a part of Virginia’s ongoing story.
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Using Pin It or the form below, let us know: what’s a unique piece of history from your community that you think more people should know about?
Click here for more details.
Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 – All rights reserved.
About the Author
Jazmine Otey headshot
Jazmine Otey
Jazmine Otey joined the 10 News team in February 2021.
A fatal collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck on Thursday evening has claimed a life and prompted a significant road closure in South Reno.
The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) responded to reports of the crash at approximately 5:29 p.m. on February 26. The incident occurred on northbound South Virginia Street, just north of Damonte Ranch Parkway.
According to the Nevada State Police, the rider of the motorcycle, an adult male, was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency medical personnel. The driver of the pickup truck remained on-site, though no further details regarding other injuries or the cause of the crash have been released. Northbound South Virginia Street: Completely shut down from Damonte Ranch Parkway to Bishop Manogue Drive.
Southbound South Virginia Street: Open, but expect “rubbernecking” delays as drivers pass the emergency vehicles. Officials expect the northbound lanes to remain closed until at least 11:30 p.m. as the NHP Highway Patrol Division completes their investigation.
A new effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs to help missing persons. (Ron Lach/Pexels.com)
HAMPTON ROADS— A proposed initiative known as The Guardian Network seeks to strengthen coordination and public access to verified information when children, seniors, and vulnerable adults go missing in Virginia.
The effort is being led by Commonwealth Attorney Krystyn Reid, with support from Sen. Danny Diggs through a budget amendment to SB30. If the amendment passes, development would move forward through the Virginia State Police.
Reid said the idea grew from her years of public service.
“The difference between politics and public service is simple,” Reid said. “One is what you say. The other is what you do.”
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Reid began her career representing domestic violence survivors and said she witnessed firsthand how quickly families can be thrown into crisis.
“When someone does not make it home, that is a family’s worst moment,” Reid said. “The Guardian Network comes from a belief that we can strengthen coordination in those first critical hours and better protect vulnerable communities.”
The network is designed to complement existing alert systems such as AMBER, Silver, Ashanti and CODI alerts. Participation would be voluntary for both families and the public.
“It does not replace them. It reinforces them,” Reid said. “What we lack is one centralized, accessible place to see verified information. This is about coordination and clarity.”
Currently, information can be fragmented, she said, making it harder for families and communities to respond effectively.
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“Families in crisis should not have to search multiple platforms,” Reid said. “Public safety requires structure. Our response should be organized and accessible.”
The United Way of the Virginia Peninsula has expressed support for the initiative, citing its alignment with the organization’s mission to improve lives by advancing education, financial stability and health.
“Children are the highest age demographic experiencing eviction and homelessness, which creates unique vulnerabilities including separation, exploitation and trafficking,” said Charvalla West of United Way of the Virginia Peninsula. “Seniors face increasing isolation, housing instability and caregiver strain in what many describe as the ‘Silver Tsunami’ of a rapidly aging population.”
She said the organization supports The Guardian Network because it strengthens coordination during the most critical moments when vulnerable individuals go missing.
“The Guardian Network aligns directly with our work to stabilize families and protect vulnerable communities,” West said. “When vulnerabilities are reduced, safety increases.”
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United Way collaborates with certified partner agencies across the Virginia Peninsula that focus on homelessness prevention, youth development, domestic violence response, aging services and housing repair. Those organizations would continue serving in their core roles, providing safe housing, trauma-informed care, mentorship, caregiver support and case management, while the network enhances coordination and awareness.
“The Guardian Network enhances coordination and awareness, while nonprofits provide the direct relational support that protects individuals before, during and after crisis events,” West said.
The concept also includes a second phase of development that would establish a standing advisory committee composed of survivors, impacted family members, nonprofit leaders, victim advocates and public safety professionals. A third phase would focus on identifying and allocating resources to support coordinated response efforts in collaboration with law enforcement, including ensuring necessary logistical supplies are available during active situations.
The immediate focus is Virginia. If successful, supporters say the model could be scalable to other states seeking to strengthen coordination in missing-person cases.
Reid said the goal is clear.
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“A stronger safety net. Better coordination. And helping bring loved ones home,” she said. “Everyone deserves to come home.”
