UConn 77, Wake Forest 71: Shabazz Napier leads the Huskies past the Demon Deacons

Shabazz Napier and Ryan Boatright each had 16 points as the Connecticut Huskies defeated the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, 77-71 at the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam in St. Thomas. With the win, UConn improves to 3-0 on the season.

The first thirty minutes was a back and forth affair with both teams trading the lead with regularity. Neither team was able to stretch a lead beyond six points. That changed at the ten minute mark of the second half, as UConn would go on a 14-3 run, turning a three-point Wake Forest lead into a seven-point deficit. Shabazz Napier had eight of Connecticut's 14 points during the three-and-a-half minute stretch. Wake Forest would fight to make it a four-point game, but Napier was 4-4 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory.

Codi Miller-McIntyre led the Demon Deacons with 21 points, C.J. Harris chipped in 17 and Travis McKie 16.

Napier and Boatright led the way for the Huskies, who also got 12 points apiece from DeAndre Daniels and Enosch Wolf.

Connecticut will play the winner of Iona and Quinnipiac on Sunday.