CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Interstat) — A dominant first-half performance and a balanced offensive attack propelled Clemson to a 71-62 victory over Wake Forest in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Spectrum Center.

The Tigers, playing in front of a crowd of 9,620, built an 18-point halftime lead and withstood a second-half surge from the Demon Deacons to secure the win. Clemson improved to 23-9 overall, while Wake Forest concluded its season at 17-16.

The most critical phase of the game was its opening stanza, where Clemson established a commanding lead that Wake Forest could never fully overcome. The Tigers came out with stifling defensive energy, forcing eight Wake Forest turnovers in the first half and converting them into easy scoring opportunities. Clemson’s defense set the tone early, with Carter Welling and RJ Godfrey each recording blocks in the opening minutes to disrupt Wake Forest’s interior game.

Offensively, Clemson was efficient and shared the ball, shooting 41 points in the first half. The Tigers used a 13-2 run midway through the period to break open a close game. Key contributions came from across the roster: Efrem Johnson hit a pair of early three-pointers, Chase Thompson came off the bench to score nine first-half points, including a three-pointer, and Dallas Thomas connected from deep. This collective effort, against a Wake Forest team that managed only 23 points before the break, created a 41-23 cushion at halftime.

Wake Forest emerged from the locker room with renewed purpose, spearheaded by the scoring duo of Juke Harris and Nate Calmese. Harris, a 6-foot-7 guard from Salisbury, North Carolina, scored 22 points and dished out four assists, often willing the Demon Deacons back into contention. His three-pointer to open the second half sparked a 10-3 Wake Forest run. Calmese, a guard from Gilbert, Arizona, caught fire after halftime, scoring 20 of his team-high 23 points in the second period. His personal 8-0 run, capped by a three-pointer with 11:29 remaining, cut Clemson’s lead to 54-52 and brought Wake Forest within a single possession for the first time since the game’s opening minutes.

The Demon Deacons’ comeback attempt, however, was ultimately undone by Clemson’s poise and ability to answer every challenge. Just as Wake Forest threatened to take the lead, the Tigers responded with critical plays. Following Calmese’s three-pointer that made it a two-point game, Clemson’s Nick Davidson scored on a putback layup. After another Wake Forest basket, RJ Godfrey converted a tough hook shot in the lane. Godfrey, a 6-foot-8 forward from Suwanee, Georgia, was a stabilizing force for Clemson, finishing with 11 points, two blocks, and several key rebounds.

Clemson’s defense also tightened when it mattered most. With the lead trimmed to five points with under five minutes to play, the Tigers forced consecutive empty possessions from Wake Forest. On the offensive end, they worked the clock and earned trips to the free-throw line, where they sealed the victory. Dillon Hunter and Efrem Johnson combined to make four crucial free throws in the final minute to keep Wake Forest at bay.

Beyond Harris and Calmese, Tre’Von Spillers provided 15 points and three assists for Wake Forest. For Clemson, the win was a product of depth, as nine different players scored. Chase Thompson finished with nine points, while Johnson, Hunter, and Ace Buckner each added eight. The Tigers’ ability to maintain their composure after seeing their large lead nearly evaporate proved decisive.

Clemson entered the game as a 5.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks, and the total score of 133 fell well under the projected over/under of 143. The Tigers’ victory also aligned with statistical projections that gave them a 74.8 percent probability to win.

With the regular season concluded, Clemson looks ahead to the ACC tournament and a potential NCAA tournament berth. Wake Forest’s season, marked by close losses and a .500 conference record, ends with this defeat in Charlotte.