Clemson Clemson/Wake Forest Wake Forest Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

Hicks, who started the first 10 games of the season before moving to the bench, scored a season-high 18 points Sunday to lead Wake Forest (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 10 AP) to a 71-63 victory over Clemson.

"I really don't care when I get in the game," Hicks said. "I just go in when they tell me to and play hard while I'm in there."

Since Ervin Murray recovered from mononucleosis and reclaimed the starting point guard spot on Dec. 29, Hicks had been forced into a lesser role.

But he's excelled in it, providing an offense spark for the Demon Deacons (14-3, 3-3 ACC) when they've needed one.

It was clear they would need him early against Clemson when Wake coach Dave Odom sensed something wrong with Murray.

"Ervin just didn't have it and I think he'll admit it to you," Odom said. "I don't know what it was, but it was just one of those days."

So Odom yanked him out of the game after only seven scoreless minutes and sent Hicks in to replace him.

The result was eight straight points from Hicks -- including consecutive 3-pointers -- in a 23-5 run that put Wake in control of the game before halftime.

"Broderick stepped up big time," said Wake guard Robert O'Kelley. "I don't think Clemson knew how to handle him because they were leaving him open. This is the NCAA, and when you leave someone open, they are going to hit some big shots. He proved that."

The Deacons snapped their two-game losing streak. And in doing so, they extended their home winning streak to 13 games while beating Clemson for the fifth straight time, and 18th in the last 22 meetings.

Will Solomon, who leads the ACC in scoring at 21.6 points a game, led Clemson with 30 points.

The Tigers (10-8, 1-4) trailed 64-50 with just under eight minutes to play, but Solomon pulled them back into the game. He scored eight straight points -- including consecutive 3-pointers -- in an 11-2 run that cut the score to 66-61 with 2:33 to play.

But he picked up his fourth foul on Clemson's next possession, and was not as aggressive as he had been. As a result, the Tigers only scored once more, on his free throws with 23 seconds to play.

It was too late for Clemson, which lost for the fourth time in its last five games.

"I thought we did a good job getting by people," said Clemson coach Larry Shyatt. "But quite honestly, I thought there was a lack of leadership down the stretch."

Josh Howard had 16 points and a season-high 10 rebounds for Wake Forest. Howard's offense picked up the slack for Wake's four other starters, who combined to score just 21 points.

O'Kelley was held to six points for the second straight game, shooting 2-for-9 for the game. He did hit his first 3-pointer in three games, but stretched that drought to 1-for-17.

"I'm working hard and doing everything I can to help this team," said O'Kelley. "But why it isn't happening for me, I don't know. I just have to hang in there."

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Clemson Clubhouse

Wake Forest Clubhouse