Preview: SMU at Wake Forest in ACC Men’s Basketball WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — A pair of teams looking to solidify their standing in the Atlantic Coast Conference will meet Tuesday when the SMU Mustangs visit the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Joel Coliseum. SMU (13-5) arrives with the better overall record but is seeking to steady itself after a narrow 72-68 home loss to Virginia on Saturday. The Mustangs have shown both high-scoring capability, including a 110-point outburst in December, and resilience in close games, edging Virginia Tech 77-76 on Jan. 14. The Mustangs are led by guard BJ Edwards, who is coming off a 13-point, five-assist performance against Virginia. Edwards has been a consistent catalyst, posting a triple-double against Cal State Fullerton (21 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) and a 20-point, seven-rebound effort in a loss at Duke earlier this month. Wake Forest (11-7) enters with momentum from a 69-68 road victory at Florida State, also on Saturday. Myles Colvin led the way with 15 points in that win. The Demon Deacons’ conference play has been a mix of tight contests, including an 87-84 loss at North Carolina and a three-point win over Virginia Tech. The matchup pits SMU’s offensive firepower, averaging over 80 points per game during its current stretch, against a Wake Forest team that has struggled at times defensively in ACC play. The Demon Deacons will need to contain Edwards and backcourt mate Boopie Miller, who scored 12 against Virginia. For Wake Forest, balancing Colvin’s scoring with contributions from Nate Calmese (18 points vs. FSU) and Juke Harris will be critical. The Demon Deacons have protected their home court well in conference play, with their only league loss in Winston-Salem coming to Miami. This game represents a key opportunity for both squads before difficult upcoming stretches. SMU will host Florida State next, while Wake Forest travels to Duke on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. EST Tuesday at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The game will be televised on an ACC Network platform.