GAME NOTES: The Wake Forest Demon Deacons will try to put an end to their road struggles today, as they invade the RBC Center in Raleigh to do battle with the NC State Wolfpack in ACC play. The Deacons enter the contest on a high note, as they won a thriller over Miami-Florida, 70-68, on Tuesday to improve to 12-0 at home. It was the second win in three games for Wake Forest, which moved to 13-6 overall and an even 3-3 in conference play. The Deacons however, now head away from home, where they have gone a poor 1-6, including 0-3 against ACC foes. As for NC State, it is coming off a sub par effort that resulted in a 92-72 setback at nationally-ranked Duke on Thursday. The loss was the second in the past three games, as the Wolfpack dipped to 13-7 overall and 2-4 in league play. The team though, now returns back to the friendly confines of the RBC Center, where it has posted an 8-2 ledger thus far. NC State leads the all-time series with Wake, 129-96, and that includes a sweep of two meetings last season.

Ishmael Smith hit a short jumper with three seconds remaining, lifting Wake Forest to a 70-68 victory over Miami on Tuesday. Smith finished the game with six points and the same amount of assists, while Jeff Teague led the charge with a season-high 27 points. The Deacons shot 46.4 percent from the field, including a 10-of-19 performance from beyond the arc. For the season, Wake is making good on 42.8 percent of its field goals and that has led it to a scoring average of 71.4 ppg. James Johnson tops the roster in both scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.3 rpg) and he also has 31 steals to his credit. Teague chips in with 11.6 ppg and he is one of the top defenders on the squad, recording a team-high 45 steals.

The Wolfpack turned the ball over 18 times and that led Duke to 26 points in a 92-72 loss on Thursday. The miscues played a large part in the setback, as NC State shot a solid 54.5 percent from the floor and that is usually good enough to win a game. Gavin Grant paced the team in defeat with 26 points, while J.J. Hickson notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. For the season, Hickson leads the Wolfpack in scoring (15.3 ppg) as well as rebounding (8.1 rpg) and he is also shooting a blistering 62.1 percent from the field. Grant is next in line with 13.8 ppg and he is also handing out 3.0 apg, while Courtney Fells chips in with 10.7 ppg. As a whole, NC State is producing 67.6 ppg on the strength of 46.0 percent shooting from the field.

NC State has the edge playing this game at home and it should be able to outlast a Wake Forest team that has struggled on the road.