WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — Juke Harris scored 26 points and Tre’Von Spillers added 14 points and four blocks as Wake Forest pulled away in the second half for an 82-72 victory over Navy in a nonconference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Joel Memorial Coliseum.

The Demon Deacons, who improved to 18-16, used a decisive 12-2 run midway through the second half to finally create separation from a persistent Midshipmen squad that fell to 26-8.

The game was a back-and-forth affair for the first 25 minutes, featuring 10 lead changes and five ties. Navy, which led for nearly 13 minutes of the first half, took a 34-33 lead with 18:33 remaining in the game on a pull-up jumper by Austin Benigni. Wake Forest responded immediately, as Nate Calmese connected on a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession to ignite the critical run that swung the game.

Over the next four minutes, Wake Forest’s defense clamped down, forcing three Navy turnovers and holding the Midshipmen without a field goal. Omaha Biliew’s transition layup, followed by a driving score from Harris and a tip-in by Spillers, pushed the Demon Deacons’ lead to 47-38. The margin ballooned to 51-40 after a Myles Colvin 3-pointer, forcing a Navy timeout with 13:25 to play.

Navy, which entered the game having won 12 of its last 13, refused to fold. A 3-pointer from Donovan Draper and a driving layup from Benigni trimmed the deficit to 56-52 with just over 10 minutes remaining. That was as close as the Midshipmen would get. Harris answered with a tough jumper and the ensuing free throw, and Biliew followed with a powerful dunk to push the lead back to nine. Harris then calmly sank two free throws to give Wake Forest its first double-digit lead at 60-50 with 9:11 on the clock.

The Demon Deacons maintained control the rest of the way, with their lead never dipping below seven points. A late 3-pointer from Harris and a dunk from Biliew in the final minute sealed the outcome before both teams emptied their benches.

Harris, a 6-foot-7 guard from Salisbury, North Carolina, filled the stat sheet, adding five assists and three steals in 37 minutes. His performance was central to Wake Forest’s offensive efficiency, especially during the pivotal second-half surge. Spillers, a 6-foot-7 forward from Charleston, South Carolina, was a force defensively with his four blocks and added nine rebounds. Biliew finished with 15 points, while Calmese had 12 and Colvin 11.

Navy was led by its backcourt duo of Benigni and Jordan Pennick. Benigni, a 5-foot-10 guard from The Woodlands, Texas, scored 19 points and dished out four assists. Pennick, a 5-foot-11 guard from Reisterstown, Maryland, led the Midshipmen with 18 points. Aidan Kehoe, a 6-foot-10 center, contributed nine points and was active defensively early with two blocks.

The first half was a tightly contested defensive struggle. Navy’s disciplined offense and persistent defense kept the taller Demon Deacons in check for long stretches. The Midshipmen led by as many as five points and took a 34-33 edge into halftime after Pennick banked in a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer. Wake Forest struggled from the perimeter in the opening period, but dominated the paint in the second half, outscoring Navy 44-38 after the break.

The Demon Deacons shot 50% from the field in the second half to finish at 46.3% for the game. Navy was held to 41.7% shooting. Wake Forest also won the rebounding battle 42-35 and scored 19 points off 15 Navy turnovers.

A crowd of 1,823 watched the game, which saw the total points fall under the betting over/under line of 147.5. Wake Forest entered as an 11.5-point favorite according to sportsbooks.

The game concluded the regular season for both teams as they await potential postseason tournament invitations.