Wake Forest narrowly defeated USC Upstate 85-80 in a thrilling game where they rallied from a six-point deficit late in the second half. Hunter Sallis led the Demon Deacons with 23 points, while Cameron Hildreth contributed 18 points, hitting crucial free throws in the closing seconds. USC Upstate's Mister Dean scored a game-high 24 points, but his team was unable to secure the win despite a strong performance. Wake Forest's defense struggled at times, allowing the Spartans to capitalize on mismatches, but they managed to convert 22 of 33 free throws to clinch the victory. This win marks Wake Forest's impressive 25th non-conference home victory out of their last 26 games. The game showcased the resilience of the Deacons, who improved to 4-0 for the season, while USC Upstate fell to 1-3.