WINSTON-SALEM (AP) — Ike Smith had 18 points including the winning free throws with 3.9 seconds left as Georgia Southern shocked Wake Forest 85-83 on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

The Deacons, coming off their first NCAA Tournament in seven years, lost for just the second time in its last 29 home openers.

GSU had last beaten an ACC opponent when it topped host Virginia Tech 83-78 in 2013.

Tookie Brown led GSU with 22 points while Winston-Salem native Mike Hughes added 18, Montae Glenn 14 with 13 rebounds and Jared Hamilton 10 points.

Keyshawn Woods led Wake with 25 points while Chaundee Brown added 21 and Bryant Crawford 19.

The Deacons led 46-40 at the break behind 18 points from Woods and 12 from Chaundee Brown.

Wake had led by 14 in the opening minutes before the Eagles made a run, cutting the margin to 31-29 on a 3-pointer from Tookie Brown with 5:36 left in the half.

Tookie Brown had 12 points and Smith, who entered the game with 998 career points, 11 in the first half.

The Eagles shot 48.5 percent in the first half to 45.5 for Wake, which was leading the rebound battle 21-12 at halftime.

GSU tied it at 48-48 on a 3-pointer from Hughes at 17:39, and tied it again at 50 on a pair of free throws from Jared Hamilton.

GSU took its first lead of the game at 80-79 on a Hughes 3-pointer with 2:11 to go. The Eagles tied it on a Smith 3-pointer that made it 83-83 with 1:02 remaining.

BIG PICTURE

Georgia Southern:  The Eagles may have beaten the most talented team on their schedule on the road in their season opener. Impressive stuff.

Wake Forest: The Deacons may need to develop a “killer instinct.” They won by only two points in their exhibition game against Division II power Queens University of Charlotte.

UP NEXT

GSU – Hosts Cal State-Bakersfield on Monday night to start a two-game homestand.

WFU __ Hosts Liberty on Tuesday night.