Johnson’s career night helps 12th-seeded Miami upset Wake Forest 83-62 in ACC tournament

Johnson leads 12th-seed Miami past Wake 83-62

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Redshirt freshman Reggie Johnson scored a season-high 22 points against his hometown school and 12th-seeded Miami routed fifth-seeded Wake Forest 83-62 on Thursday in the first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

Johnson was 8-for-8 from the field and 6-for-6 from the line while James Dews added 15 points for the Hurricanes (19-12).

They led by 25, shot nearly 52 percent against one of the league’s toughest defenses and made a huge early run stand in advancing to Friday’s quarterfinal matchup against fourth-seeded Virginia Tech.

Ishmael Smith had 14 points to lead the Demon Deacons (19-10).

They didn’t get closer than 16 in the second half in falling to 0-3 in ACC tournament games under coach Dino Gaudio. They’ve lost five of six, and that can’t help but damage their seeding — if not drop them onto the NCAA tournament bubble — when Selection Sunday rolls around.