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After struggling on the road, Wake Forest happy to be home

Feb 26, 2009 - 11:23 AM North Carolina State (15-10) at No. 14 Wake Forest (20-5) 8:00 p.m. EST

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Wake Forest's struggles on the road have caused it to slide down the Atlantic Coast Conference standings.

A return to their friendly confines should help the Demon Deacons right the ship.

Fourteenth-ranked Wake Forest goes for its fifth straight win at home on Thursday when it hosts North Carolina State.

The Demon Deacons (20-5, 7-5 ACC) were in control of the Atlantic Coast Conference and atop the national rankings before falling apart on the road.

Wake Forest's 101-91 loss to then-No. 9 Duke on Sunday was its fourth straight setback away from home as it remains in fourth in the conference, 2 1/2 games behind fifth-ranked North Carolina (24-3, 10-3).

With four games remaining this campaign, the Demon Deacons still have a chance to claim the regular-season ACC title, but will need a win against North Carolina State to stay in the race.

The Wolfpack (15-10, 5-7) have won three of their last four, including a 72-67 victory over Virginia on Saturday.

Senior Courtney Fells finished with only nine points, but hit all four of his free throws in the final 7.2 seconds to help seal the win against Virginia.