Wake Forest University
Virginia
Deacs Drop 59-49 Decision to No. 2 Virginia
1/21/2018 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
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By Wake Forest Athletic Communications (@WakeMBB)
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest men's basketball team fell to No. 2 Virginia, 59-49, Sunday night at the LJVM Coliseum. The Demon Deacons fall to 8-11 on the season, including a 1-6 mark in conference play, while the Cavaliers improve to 18-1 with a 7-0 mark in the ACC.
For the 12th time this season, Bryant Crawford led the Deacs with 11 points to go along with four assists. He has now passed Jackie Murdock on his way to 31st on the all-time Wake Forest scoring list with 1,250 career points, just three points shy of cracking the top-30.
Mitchell Wilbekin finished with 10 points while Brandon Childress recorded double-digits for the seventh time this season with 10 points.
Doral Moore totaled nine points and 13 rebounds, just one point shy of his sixth double-double of the season.
After Wilbekin opened scoring with a 3-pointer, the teams traded leads and baskets, accounting for three lead changes and one tie in the first five minutes. The Cavaliers then used four-straight defensive stops to go on an 8-0 run and take a 15-8 lead, forcing Wake Forest into a timeout. However, out of the break, Childress netted a jumper that kicked off a 7-0 run by the Deacons to tie the game 17-all. A dunk from Olivier Sarr stretched the run to 9-0 and gave the Deacs their first lead in eight minutes at 19-17 with six minutes to go. The Deacs continued to dominate, extending that run to 14-2 to take their largest lead of the game at five points, 24-19. Wake Forest managed to hold on to the lead, taking a 24-22 advantage into halftime.
Wake Forest held the Cavaliers to just 22 first-half points, tied for the fewest points they have allowed in a first half all season. The Deacs also gave the Cavs their first halftime deficit in ACC play this year.
After Virginia opened the second half with a triple to regain the lead, the Deacons answered with a 6-0 run to take a five-point lead early in the second half. The Cavaliers countered with back-to-back buckets of their own to cut the lead to one, 30-29, while regaining the lead on their first pair of free throws of the night. With 10 minutes remaining, Virginia got hot in the field, making 6-of-8 shots, while the Deacs went cold at 0-for-5, to take a seven-point edge. Wake Forest did gain momentum and managed to pull within one, but the Cavs responded with a 6-0 run to regain a seven-point lead. The Demon Deacons could not overcome the deficit and fell 59-49.
Up next, the Demon Deacons conclude their two-game homestand against No. 5 Duke on Tuesday. Tip is set for 9 p.m. on ACC Network affiliates.
