Wake Forest University
Duke
Wake Forest Shocks No. 4 Duke 82-72
3/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 5, 2014
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By Ben Helms, WakeForestSports.com (@TieDyeNation)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Behind a 17-0 run in the final five minutes of the game and a career-high 20 points from Tyler Cavanaugh, Wake Forest stunned No. 4 Duke 82-72 on Wednesday evening at the LJVM Coliseum.
Trailing 66-59 with 5:20 left, sophomore Devin Thomas sunk two free throws to get the Demon Deacons (16-14, 6-11 ACC) going on offense. After a Duke offensive foul and two made free throws by Travis McKie, Tyler Cavanaugh made two straight buckets to give Wake Forest a one point lead as the crowd came to life.
Duke (23-7, 12-5 ACC) went cold, coming away empty on 11 consecutive possessions and Wake Forest kept pouring it on. After a Codi Miller-McIntyre layup, a Cavanaugh put-back, and two made free throws from McKie, the Deacons had their lead to 10.
Wake Forest sent senior Travis McKie and graduate student Coron Williams out right on their senior nights. McKie had 19 points, four rebounds, and one assist while Williams dropped 12, including two three-pointers. The crowd stormed the court as Wake Forest defeated Duke for the first time since knocking off a No. 1 Blue Devil side in 2009.
Turning Point
Duke's leading scorer Jabari Parker headed to the bench with his fourth foul with 5:44 left and the Deacons immediately capitalized as Tyler Cavanaugh knocked down the ensuing free throws to start what would turn out to be a 17-0 run. By the time Parker reentered the game, the Deacons had taken the lead and had a stranglehold on the game's momentum.
By the Numbers
- Five Demon Deacons scored in double figures for the first time since Wake Forest's meeting with Duke at LJVM Coliseum last season. Cavanaugh's career-high 20 points led the way. He was joined by McKie (19), Codi Miller-McIntyre (13), Williams (12) and Adala Moto (12).
- Miller-McIntyre dished out eight assists, his second highest total of the ACC season.
- The Deacons held Duke to 22 percent (6-of-27) shooting from behind the arc. The Blue Devils had entered the evening shooting 40 percent from distance.
- Devin Thomas contributed eight rebounds in the victory, the most of any Wake Forest player on the night. Adala Moto and Cavanaugh contributed six boards each.
- Wake Forest made its final eight free throws to put the game away, shooing 80 percent (16-of-20) from the charity stripe in the second half.
- The Deacons played a clean game and were whistled for only 13 fouls, their second-lowest total of the year. Duke committed 27 fouls, sending Wake Forest to the line 34 times
Quick Shots
- With the upset over Duke, Wake Forest completes a Tobacco Road sweep at home this season. The Deacons defeated North Carolina, NC State, and Duke at the LJVM Coliseum this year, their first time accomplishing that feat since 2008-09.
- Before the game, Travis McKie and Coron Williams were honored on their Senior Night. McKie has started every one of Wake Forest's games in his four-year career and, with 124 total starts, is second only to Tim Duncan. Williams, a graduate student, has averaged 9.2 points per game and has only nine turnovers in 713 minutes of play this season.
- Wake Forest led Duke at halftime 36-33, only the second time that the Blue Devils have trailed at the half this season. Duke last trailed at halftime in a loss at Syracuse on Feb. 1.
- Wake Forest forced Duke into serious foul trouble in the second half. Rodney Hood fouled out during the Deacons' close-out run, and big men Jabari Parker and Marshall Plumlee each had four fouls.
Up Next
Wake Forest will travel to Coral Gables for their regular season finale against Miami on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the ACC's Regional Sports Networks and can be heard on the Wake Forest IMG Sports Network.
McKie, Williams Shine on Senior Night
By Emma Lingan, WakeForestSports.com
Wednesday night was Senior Night at the LJVM Coliseum, and both Travis McKie and Coron Williams made their final home game at Wake Forest one to remember.
McKie, a senior and four-year starter, and Williams, a fifth-year transfer from Robert Morris, both started the game against Duke after being honored in a pre-game ceremony. Both finished in double figures, and both pulled down four rebounds apiece.
McKie opened up the scoring with a 3-pointer less than 20 seconds in, and another clutch 3-pointer in the second half cut the Duke lead to 60-57 with 8:19 remaining. He finished with 19 points, second only to Cavanaugh's 20.
McKie has scored in double figures in nine of the past 12 games since Jan. 22. He is Wake Forest's third-leading scorer with an average of 11.1 points per game, and he leads the team in conference play with 11.8 points per game.
The two-time All-ACC forward has started all 123 games in his career and leads all active ACC players in career starts. If he starts the remainder of his scheduled games for the Demon Deacons, he will be behind only Tim Duncan (127) for the most career starts at Wake Forest.
"It's a great feeling," McKie said. "It's kind of picture perfect. It hasn't been the easiest four years. I think everybody knows that. We've had our downs more than any team, but this season we beat [N.C. State], we beat [North Carolina], and we finally beat Duke. Especially being my last game ever here, it's amazing. I couldn't picture it better."
Williams also had a big 3-pointer to tie the game 43-43 with 16:47 left to play, making him the first Demon Deacon to reach double figures. He finished with 12 points on efficient 4-of-6 shooting.
Cavanaugh Sets Career High with 20 Points in Win Over Duke
By Emma Lingan, WakeForestSports.com
After flying under the radar for much of his first two seasons at Wake Forest, Tyler Cavanaugh had a breakout performance on Wednesday night against Duke.
Cavanaugh finished with the game with a career-high 20 points. His previous career-high was 15 points, which he hit on two occasions this season, against Richmond on Dec. 7 and at North Carolina on Feb. 22.
"It just feels great to win," Cavanaugh said. "I'm glad I was able to help my team in the ways I could, but this one means a lot. To be able to do it for Travis and Coron means a lot."
Cavanaugh's layup to put the Deacons in front 67-66 was part of a massive 17-0 run for Wake Forest in the second half.
Wednesday marked Cavanaugh's 14th game in double figures this season. He started each of the first 22 games this year, averaging 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.
"My teammates got me the ball in good places to score," Cavanaugh said. "When we're flowing like that, everyone, you can't guard all of us, so you've just got to take advantage and stay together and just keep working."
