Freshman guard Maverick Rowan heated up from long range in the second half and finished with 24 points as North Carolina State defeated Wake Forest 75-72 on Tuesday afternoon in the opening game of the ACC Tournament at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.

The Wolfpack (16-16) advances to Wednesday afternoon's second-round game against fifth-seeded Duke.

Wake Forest missed three potential tying 3-point shots in the last 10 seconds.

Guard Anthony Barber added 22 points for No. 12 seed N.C. State.

Rowan, who had six points at halftime, connected on three 3-point shots during a span of less than two minutes down the stretch. He then was fouled on a 3-point attempt, making two of those free throws for a 70-63 edge with 2:11 left, marking the largest margin of the game.

Guard Codi Miller-McIntyre's three-point play with 1:06 left helped the Demon Deacons close within 70-67.

Barber answered with two free throws for N.C. State.

But when Wake Forest guard Mitchell Wilbekin was fouled on 3-point shot with 33 seconds left, he converted three free throws to trim the deficit to 72-70. Again, Barber responded with a pair of foul shots.

Freshman guard Bryant Crawford racked up 19 points and forward Devin Thomas had 12 points and 12 rebounds for No. 13 seed Wake Forest (11-20). Miller-McIntyre finished with 14 points in his last college game and guard Mitchell Wilbekin had 11 points.

It became a scoring duel between freshman Rowan and Crawford during a stretch of the second half.

Wake Forest led 34-33 at halftime of a game that was close throughout. The teams split in the regular season, both winning at home.

The Demon Deacons were eliminated in the first round for the second year in a row.