ESPN Men's Basketball

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- L.D. Williams scored a career-high 23 points, and Al-Farouq Aminu had 17 points, 13 rebounds and the highlight-reel play in Wake Forest's 80-69 victory over North Carolina-Wilmington on Wednesday night.

Ishmael Smith matched a personal best with 19 points while answering several Seahawk rallies with slicing layups, and Williams was 8-for-8 from the free-throw line in the final 1 1/2 minutes for the Demon Deacons (7-2).

They shook off a sloppy start, shot nearly 54 percent and turned back several rallies to win their third straight overall and 12th in a row against the Seahawks (4-6).

Chad Tomko scored 12 points and nearly brought UNC Wilmington back from a 15-point deficit. The Seahawks had won three of four, were playing host to an Atlantic Coast Conference team for just the third time and were denied their first victory against one of those programs in 17 years.