WINSTON-SALEM - N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe cupped his hands to his mouth, leaning out on the Joel Coliseum court and shouting, "Play smart."

Lowe said it again. And again.

"Play smart, guys, play smart."

But it proved to be so much wasted breath Saturday. If anyone in red heard him, it apparently didn't take.

The Wolfpack's play was anything but smart in a 78-67 loss to Wake Forest, pushing State's losing streak to eight games -- its longest since the 1991-92 season -- and leaving the Pack the 12th seed in next week's ACC Tournament in Charlotte.

"They played hard. They wanted it more than we did," State senior Gavin Grant said of the Demon Deacons (17-12, 7-9 ACC). "They played harder and smarter than we did. We didn't play smart at all."

Lowe kept the players in the locker room for several minutes after the game, stressing that no matter how disappointing the regular season was -- and it must rank among the most disappointing in State's long basketball history -- much still could be accomplished in Charlotte.

After all, a year ago, the Pack was pummeled in its last regular-season game at Maryland, then won three games and reached the ACC Tournament final.

"They've heard the stories and how dreams are made," Lowe said. "But we have to make sure that we go in there together, and we go in there and play for the right reason, we play together, we play smart, we play hard, and we give ourselves a chance."

The Pack (15-15, 4-12), which has not won since Feb. 5, played together at times and hard at times against the Deacs, who had lost four straight, most recently an 80-58 thrashing at Virginia Tech. But State also had a game-long problem: Wake guards Jeff Teague and Ishmael Smith.

Teague, a 6-foot-2 freshman who always looks to attack the basket, had 25 points and Smith 14 as the Deacs' starting backcourt outscored the Pack's 39-12.

"They beat us there," Lowe said. "No question their backcourt ... they got us today."

So did freshman forward James Johnson, who had 19 points despite foul problems. Johnson, a solid candidate for ACC rookie of the year, had scored seven points in the last two games.

"When we got back from Virginia Tech, I told our kids on the bus, 'I don't want to hear about anybody being tired or it being a long season. This season is just beginning,' " Wake coach Dino Gaudio said. "I said, 'If you guys are tired, go with your buddies to Panama City or Cancun [for spring break].' James raised his hand. He stood up and said, 'I apologize for my performance the last couple of games.' That's the kind of kids we have."

State, which had not played since a tough 87-86 loss to Duke last week, fell behind 13-2 and 20-8, but rallied for a 22-22 tie before Wake Forest regrouped for a 35-29 lead at halftime. The Pack committed 11 of its 16 turnovers in the first half -- traveling, strips, bad passes, bonehead decisions, players bumping into each other, you name it.

"We had 16 turnovers, and I would dare say 12 of those were really unforced turnovers," Lowe said. "That's something we've been talking about and dealing with ... pretty much all year -- not shooting ourselves in the foot."

State had a chance to take the lead eight minutes into the second half, trailing 47-45, but Trevor Ferguson missed a 3-point shot from the corner. Teague pushed the ball and converted a 3-point play.

Later, a driving basket by Grant, who led the Pack with 16 points and seven rebounds, pulled State within 60-58 with 5:30 to play. But Smith knocked in a 3 from the key, and Wake's David Weaver then blocked a shot by Brandon Costner -- the State coaches screaming at official Tim Kelly for a foul against Weaver, who crashed into Costner after the block.

Instead, L.D. Williams scored for Wake. Teague then converted a Smith steal into a basket -- Wake scored 20 points off State turnovers -- and the Deacons were on their way.

"I thought our kids played hard and followed the game plan," Gaudio said.

Not the Pack, which was picked to finish third in the ACC in the media preseason poll.

"If we won this game or lost it, it really wouldn't have made a lot of difference as far as the ACC Tournament or NCAA Tournament," Grant said. "Nobody wants to lose, but you can't hang your heads over this loss. You've got to get ready for the tournament."

State still has a game to play, in Thursday's opening round. At least one more game.