Wake Forest @ Charleston preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 20, 2016 ) Wake Forest 78, Charleston 61

Wake Forest opens play in the Wooden Classic in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday against the College of Charleston after a much-needed victory on Friday against Davidson. The Demon Deacons, who lost at Charlotte five days earlier, rebounded for an 82-70 triumph as senior point guard Brandon Childress led five players in double figures with 18 points and junior forward Olivier Sarr shook off a scoreless first half to finish with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

One of the big developments for coach Danny Manning was the play of graduate transfer guard Torry Johnson, who got his first start for the injured Chaundee Brown and contributed 15 points. “He shot the ball tremendously from the field,” Manning said of Johnson, who hit 5-of-6 shots from the field and finished 2-of-2 from 3-point range. “Those 32 minutes were very valuable to us and we appreciate that senior leadership.” The Demon Deacons shot 61.3 percent from the field in the second half and were 7-for-13 from 3-point range en route to 50 second-half points. The Cougars are led by preseason Colonial Athletic Association player of the year Grant Riller, who is averaging 21.4 points on 52.2 percent shooting from the field.

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPNews

ABOUT COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON (3-2): Riller has reached 20 points in four of his first five games, scoring 20 points on 8-for-17 shooting in Saturday’s 72-71 loss at Central Florida. Junior guard Brevin Galloway averages 12 points and is 11-for-31 on the season from 3-point range, while senior forward Sam Miller leads the team in rebounding average at 8.2. College of Charleston is one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the nation, ranking 315th at 27.5 percent.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (3-2): Childress is sixth in the ACC in scoring at 17.8 points and is fifth in assists at 5.8, finishing with seven assists and one turnover Friday. Johnson had scored three points total in his first four games before filling in for Brown, who is averaging 15.8 points and 9.8 rebounds but suffered a left ankle injury in practice last week. The Demon Deacons are outrebounding opponents by an average of 9.4 per game, as Sarr averages 8.2 rebounds along with 10.8 points.

TIP-INS

1. Wake Forest sophomore F Isaiah Mucius finished with 11 points and 10 rebounds Friday for his first career double-double.

2. The Demon Deacons have beaten College of Charleston in three prior meetings, the latest a 78-61 victory in 2016 in Charleston.

3. Thursday’s winner faces either Providence or Long Beach State in Friday’s semifinals.

PREDICTION: Wake Forest 78, College of Charleston 68