EditorsNote: subs 2nd graf for Devoe 2nd-half point total; minor edits throughout
Michael Devoe used a big second half and finished with 24 points as Georgia Tech pulled out an 86-79 victory against Wake Forest, spoiling a special occasion for the home team Wednesday night in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Jose Alvarado's 22 points and Moses Wright's 14 also were a boost for Georgia Tech (13-13, 7-8 Atlantic Coast Conference). Jordan Usher added 10 points. Devoe scored 16 points in the second half.
The Yellow Jackets made enough plays down the stretch after Wake Forest threatened several times to go ahead. Devoe had 12 points during a six-minute span of the second half.
Georgia Tech converted often at the free-throw line in the waning minutes, ending up with 29 made foul shots on 39 attempts.
Brandon Childress and Jahcobi Neath scored 16 points apiece for the Demon Deacons. Chaundee Brown's 13 points along with 11 points each for Oliver Sarr and Ismael Massoud helped keep Wake Forest (11-15, 4-12) close.
Georgia Tech had won four of its previous six games, but all of those victories came at home.
The Demon Deacons shot 5 for 16 on 3-pointers for the game, but made just one in the first half.
Georgia Tech led by as many as 11 points in the first half. The Yellow Jackets made 10 of their final 17 shots before the break for a 37-29 lead.
The Demon Deacons were in the lead less than three minutes into the second half, courtesy of a 9-0 run before Georgia Tech scored in the second half.
But the Yellow Jackets opened a seven-point lead before the teams were tied with less than seven minutes to play.
The home team had won the last seven meetings in the series until this result.
It was an otherwise special night for the Demon Deacons, who honored former coach Dave Odom and the 1995 ACC Tournament championship team that featured, among others, Tim Duncan.
The Demon Deacons have now played every ACC team at least once this season. Their past four games are rematches.
Wake Forest opened a stretch of three consecutive home games.
--Field Level Media
