Tyree Appleby posts ridiculous stat line in Wake Forest’s win over North Carolina

Tyree Appleby, in a huge win for Wake Forest over North Carolina on Tuesday, posted one of the more outrageous stat lines you’ll find in a college basketball game.

In a 92-85 win for the Demon Deacons, Appleby became just the 4th ACC player in the last 25 years to record 30 or more points and 10 or more assists in a single game.

Appleby finished with 35 points, 11 assists, and 7 rebounds while adding a steal and turning the basketball over once.

The 6-foot guard got those 35 points while making just 6 shots from the field.

Appleby shot 6-for-20 in the game and missed all 6 of his attempts from 3-point range.

He made 23 of his 28 shots at the free throw line. Twenty-eight! 

As a team, North Carolina took 26 free throws.

The 23 makes from the foul line also set an ACC record for made free throws in a single game. The 28 attempts also set a new ACC record.

Appleby’s 35 points were 2 off his career-high, set back in 2018 when he was with Cleveland State. It marked the 2nd time this season he’s topped 30 for the Demon Deacons.

The performance at the free throw line helped Wake Forest hold off a hard-charging Carolina team in the second half. UNC came out flat to open the game and went into the locker room at halftime trailing 47-25. But UNC found some juice in the second half and responded with 60 points to make it a game late.

Appleby made 15 free throws in the final 2 minutes alone to keep Wake Forest ahead as UNC tried to trim the deficit.

The win could be huge for Wake Forest’s Tournament hopes. The Demon Deacons entered the day in ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s “Considered” category. Lunardi wrote

that a Wake win would move it into the at-large conversation.

Make it 3 straight for Wake Forest (16-9, 8-6 ACC). Next up is Georgia Tech on Saturday.