With just an hour-and-a-half drive separating the two, Wake Forest and App. State are set for a competitive in-state matchup in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament. The North Carolina schools both finished the season with 20 or more wins and are looking to extend their seasons further into March.
App. State collected the Sun Belt Conference’s regular season title but failed to make it past the semifinals of the conference tournament, losing to Arkansas State 67-65. One more win might have pushed the Mountaineers into the big dance, but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Finishing fifth in the ACC, Wake Forest didn’t fare better in their tournament, bowing out in the quarterfinals after an 81-69 beating from Pitt. They did trounce Notre Dame in the previous round with a strong 13-point victory but missed out on a ticket to the NCAA Tournament in the end. Nevertheless, the Demon Deacons do have a one seed to their name.
The winner of this contest will go on to face either Georgia or Xavier in the second round.
Most recently meeting in November 2022, the series between Wake Forest and App. State is lopsided in the Demon Deacons favor, 21-0. However, App. State is coming in with Dustin Kerns at the helm, who recently took home Sun Belt Coach of the Year after leading the Mountaineers to a 27-6 record.
Donovan Gregory and Tre’Von Spillers were also named to the All-Sun Belt first team, leading the team to an undefeated record at home. Unfortunately, they won’t be in Boone for the first round of the NIT.
Wake Forest is a respectable 16-1 at home this season, finishing with a 20-13 record overall. Hunter Sallis was named the AP’s ACC Newcomer of the Year after averaging 18.3 points per game for the Deacs, also earning him a spot on the AP’s ACC First Team.
Here’s what you need to know about Wednesday’s matchup between Wake Forest and App. State, including broadcast information and start time.
What channel is Wake Forest vs. App. State on today?
- TV channel: None
- Live stream: ESPN+
The last time these two teams met in November 2022, Andrew Carr hit a jump shot at the buzzer for the Deacs to cement the win, 67-66. App. State still has not emerged victorious against Wake Forest since they started competing in 1951.
Fans looking to stream Wake Forest vs. App. State can watch live on ESPN+.
Wake Forest vs. App. State start time
- Date: Wednesday, March 20
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
The NIT game between Wake Forest and App. State is set to tip off at 8 p.m. ET from the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Wake Forest last competed in the NIT in 2022 where it reached the quarterfinals after two wins at home versus Towson and VCU. For head coach Steve Forbes, this is the second postseason tournament since he arrived four years ago.
For the Mountaineers, this is their second appearance in the NIT with the first coming in the 2006-2007 season. It’s the team’s seventh postseason tournament appearance in program history.
2024 NIT schedule, scores
The NIT begins with Round 1, which is slated for Tuesday, March 19, and Wednesday, March 20. The entire schedule for Round 1 will be updated below as the information becomes available.
Round 1: Tuesday, March 19
| Game | Time (ET) | Location | TV Channel/Live Stream |
| Providence vs. Boston College | 7 p.m. | Amica Mutual Pavilion | ESPNU/Sling |
| Georgia vs. Xavier | 7 p.m. | Stegeman Coliseum | ESPN/Sling |
| Ohio State vs. Cornell | 7 p.m. | Value City Arena | ESPN2/Sling |
| LSU vs. North Texas | 7 p.m. | Pete Maravich Assembly Center | SEC Network/ESPN+ |
| Virginia Tech vs. Richmond | 9 p.m. | Cassell Coliseum | ESPN2/Sling |
| Butler vs. Minnesota | 9 p.m. | Hinkle Fieldhouse | ESPNU/Sling |
| Iowa vs. Kansas State | 9 p.m. | Carver-Hawkeye Arena | ESPN/Sling |
| Utah vs. UC Irvine | 11 p.m. | Jon M. Huntsman Center | ESPN2/Sling |
Round 2: Wednesday, March 20
| Game | Time (ET) | Location | TV Channel/Live Stream |
| Seton Hall vs. Saint Joseph’s | 7 p.m. | Prudential Center | ESPN2/Sling |
| Indiana State vs. SMU | 7 p.m. | Hulman Center | ESPN+ |
| Bradley vs. Loyola Chicago | 7 p.m. | Carver Arena | ESPN+ |
| Princeton vs. UNLV | 8 p.m. | Jadwin Gymnasium | ESPN+ |
| Wake Forest vs. App. State | 8 p.m. | LJVM Coliseum | ESPN+ |
| Cincinnati vs. San Francisco | 9 p.m. | Fifth Third Arena | ESPN+ |
| Villanova vs. VCU | 9 p.m. | Finneran Pavilion | ESPN2/Sling |
| UCF vs. South Florida | 9 p.m. | Addition Financial Arena | ESPN+ |
