WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — In a high-octane offensive display at a packed Joel Memorial Coliseum on Friday, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons used a dominant second-half performance to pull away from the Northeastern Huskies, securing an 86-73 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball matchup.

A crowd of 6,853 watched as the Demon Deacons improved their season record to 6-2, while the Huskies fell to 3-4.

The game was a tale of two halves, with both teams trading blows in a tightly contested opening period. Northeastern’s Miles Newton came out firing, draining a three-pointer on the game’s first possession to set an early tone. The Huskies’ offense flowed through the dynamic duo of Newton and Xander Alarie, who combined for creative playmaking and scoring. Newton finished the half with a game-high 15 points, all from the field, while Alarie orchestrated the offense with precision.

Wake Forest, however, had an answer for every Huskies run. The inside presence of Tre’Von Spillers proved difficult for Northeastern to handle. The 6-foot-7 forward from Charleston, South Carolina, was a force on both ends, establishing position in the paint and controlling the glass. His efforts, combined with timely outside shooting from Juke Harris and Nate Calmese, kept the Demon Deacons afloat.

The first half featured 10 lead changes and five ties, culminating in a nail-biting finish. After a back-and-forth final minute, Wake Forest took a slender 45-44 lead into the locker room after Cooper Schwieger sank a free throw with just over a second remaining.

Any momentum Northeastern carried from the first half was quickly extinguished after the break. Wake Forest opened the second period on a decisive 9-2 run, capped by a Juke Harris layup and subsequent free throw, pushing their lead to eight points and forcing an early Huskies timeout.

The Demon Deacons’ defensive intensity ratcheted up, disrupting Northeastern’s rhythm and creating transition opportunities. Spillers continued his all-around dominance, protecting the rim and cleaning up misses on the offensive end. He finished the game with a double-double, recording 17 points and 10 rebounds in just 26 minutes of action, along with two blocks and two steals.

While Newton led all scorers with 22 points for Northeastern, his production slowed in the face of Wake Forest’s adjusted defensive schemes in the second half. Alarie posted a well-rounded line of 15 points, six rebounds, and six assists, but the Huskies struggled to find consistent secondary scoring outside of Youri Fritz, who added 10 points and five rebounds.

Wake Forest, conversely, showcased its depth and balance. Harris complemented Spillers with 17 points, while Sebastian Akins provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring 13 points, all in the second half, and dishing out three assists. Myles Colvin also reached double figures with 11 points, as the Demon Deacons steadily expanded their lead, ultimately cruising to the 13-point victory.

The win extends Wake Forest’s positive momentum as they prepare to host Oklahoma in the ACC/SEC Challenge on Tuesday. Northeastern will look to rebound on the road against Holy Cross next Wednesday.