Wake Forest University
Syracuse
Deacs Fall Short at Syracuse, 81-76
1/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@TieDyeNation)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Despite a double-double from John Collins, Wake Forest fell to Syracuse 81-76 in a tight game at the Carrier Dome Tuesday night.
The roller-coaster of a game consisted of 12 ties and 14 lead changes.
Collins recorded his third-consecutive 20-point game with 23 points. He also pulled down an ACC career high 12 rebounds for his eighth double-double of the season.
Bryant Crawford added 13 points while Brandon Childress scored 10 for the Deacs to round out double-digit scoring.
Syracuse (12-9, 4-4 ACC) jumped out to an early 7-2 lead but Wake Forest (12-8, 3-5 ACC) quickly caught back up with an 8-0 run of its own. From there, the Demon Deacons held the advantage until a jumper from Andrew White III gave the Orange a 21-20 lead with just over seven minutes left in the half. The teams battled in the remaining minutes and fought for three ties and four lead changes but it was the Deacs that took a 32-29 advantage into the locker rooms.
The second half matched the first with multiple ties and lead changes. The Deacs slowly built their way up to a 55-47 lead with just over 10 minutes to go but Syracuse did not back down. The Orange took the lead with just under six minutes to go and held on until a Mitchell Wilbekin triple gave the Deacs a 68-67 lead with 2:33 remaining and forced the Orange to take a time out. After the break, Syracuse once again gained the lead and did not look back. The Deacs managed to bring the score within one with nine seconds remaining but the Orange sealed the game in their favor at the free throw line, 81-76.
Along with his 10 points, Childress matched a career high with three steals while matching an ACC career high three rebounds.
The Demon Deacons return to the LJVM Coliseum Saturday, Jan. 28 to face No. 17 Duke. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m.
