WILMINGTON, N.C. - Senior guard L.D. Williams poured in a game-high 23 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 from the foul line in the final 1:12, as Wake Forest won its 12th straight game over UNC Wilmington in a non-conference men’s basketball contest Wednesday night at Trask Coliseum. Former New Hanover High School star Ty Walker returned to the Port City, missing his only shot attempt in two minutes of action. Tune into WWAY Sunday at noon for the Cape Fear Sports Report, we’ll have highlights and a spotlight on Walker.

The Demon Deacons improved to 7-2 on the season after winning their third consecutive game. The Seahawks dipped to 4-6 and finished their three-game homestand with a pair of losses. UNCW also fell to 1-30 all-time against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.

Three other Demon Deacons finished in double digits, including senior guard Ishmael Smith (19), sophomore forward Al-Farouq Aminu (17) and freshman guard C.J. Harris with 11. WFU shot 53.6 percent from the floor on the game, including a season-best 69.6 percent in the first half as it built a 37-30 halftime cushion.

Ty Walker was inserted into the game by Coach Dino Gaudio for two minutes of action. Walker will be featured on the Cape Fear Sports Report on Sunday at noon on WWAY.

Junior guard Chad Tomko paced the Seahawks with 12 points on 5-of-14 shooting from the field and just 1-for-7 from behind the three-point line. Junior center John Fields added 11 points before fouling out with 18 seconds left in the game. Fields finished with four blocks.

WFU built a 37-30 halftime lead and opened the second half with an 11-4 spurt to take a 48-34 advantage. Aminu connected on the second of two free throws and added a three-point play as the Demon Deacons increased the margin to 48-34 at 15:20.

The margin swelled to 15 points, 54-39, on a layup and free throw by Harris at 13:39 before UNCW narrowed the deficit to 55-48 on a Fields dunk with 11:52 showing.

Aminu, who added 13 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season, and Smith made key buckets in the final 10 minutes to help Wake withstand several Seahawk runs. Smith wound up scoring 15 of his 19 points in the second half as the Demon Deacons won their third game at Trask Coliseum in as many tries.

After UNCW matched its largest lead of the first half, 14-10, on a reverse layup by Fields, the Demon Deacons reeled off eight consecutive points to grab an 18-14 edge. Williams scored the first six points in the spurt and Aminu’s dunk with 8:16 left in the first period gave Wake a four-point advantage.

Tomko helped UNCW slice the deficit to one point with just under four minutes left in the opening half. He converted a conventional three-point play with 3:44 remaining to close the gap to 26-25.

But Wake closed out the final on a strong note by outscoring UNCW, 11-5, capped by freshman forward Ari Stewart’s triple from the left corner with 22 seconds left in the half.

The Seahawks struggled from long range, connecting on just 6-of-23 (26.1 percent) attempts from the behind the 3-point line. The Demon Deacons, meanwhile, attempted a season low four 3-point attempts, making two treys.

Wake Forest held a 48-32 scoring advantage in the paint.

The Seahawks play their second straight ACC opponent on Saturday when they take on Virginia in Charlottesville at 7 p.m. The Deacons open ACC play on Sunday with a 7:45 home game against N.C. State.

Game Notes: Both teams struggled at the free throw line, combining to go 33-for-61 at the charity stripe … Smith completed a solid effort for Wake Forest with five assists and four steals … UNCW attempted 19 more 3-pointers than the Demon Deacons … The teams combined for 34 turnovers … Freshman forward Keith Rendleman added seven points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes for the Seahawks … WFU finished with a 42-36 advantage on the boards.
-Courtesy UNCW