Wake Forest Defeats Navy in NIT Opener

Demon Deacons advance to second round with 82-72 victory

Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:10am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Juke Harris scored 26 points to lead Wake Forest to an 82-72 win over Navy in the opening round of the NIT tournament on Wednesday in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Omaha Biliew added 15 points for the Demon Deacons, who never trailed after taking an early 4-3 lead. Navy's Austin Benigni scored 19 points in his final college game, but the Midshipmen couldn't overcome Wake Forest's late 12-2 run that sealed the victory.

Why it matters

The win advances Wake Forest to the second round of the NIT, keeping their postseason hopes alive. For Navy, the loss ends their season after a successful 26-8 campaign, their most wins in a season since 1986-87.

The details

Wake Forest led for nearly the entire game, though Navy kept it close for much of the contest. The Demon Deacons pulled away late with a 12-2 run capped by a pair of layups from Tre'Von Spillers that gave them a 72-56 lead with 4:17 remaining. Myles Colvin and Biliew also made key plays during that decisive stretch.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 19, 2026.

The players

Juke Harris

A Wake Forest player who scored a game-high 26 points.

Omaha Biliew

A Wake Forest player who scored 15 points and had three slam dunks.

Austin Benigni

A Navy player who scored 19 points in the final game of his college career.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The winner of the Illinois State vs. Kent State game will be Wake Forest's opponent in the second round of the NIT.

The takeaway

This win keeps Wake Forest's postseason hopes alive as they advance to the second round of the NIT. For Navy, the loss ends a successful 26-8 season, their best in nearly 40 years.