Wake Forest University
11-2,1-1ACC
Louisville
8-4,2-0ACC
Wake Forest Falls Late at Louisville
12/29/2021 10:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Jake LaRavia and Alondes Williams each scored 15 points, while Daivien Williamson added 14.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Wake Forest men's basketball team fell to Louisville 73-69 on Wednesday evening inside KFC Yum! Center.
The Demon Deacons (11-2, 1-1 ACC) knocked down three shots from beyond the arc to retake the lead over the game's final five minutes but were answered each time by three-pointers from Louisville (8-4, 2-0 ACC).
Alondes Williams and Jake LaRavia led the team's scoring effort, finishing with 15 points a piece. The pair also combined for 13-of-16 shooting at the free throw line.
Additionally, Williams dished out a game-high seven assists while LaRavia pulled down seven rebounds, tying with Dallas Walton for a team best.
Daivien Williamson was the third Demon Deacon to reach the double-digit mark as the Winston-Salem, N.C. native added 14 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including a pair of threes.
In all 13 games this season, Wake Forest has had at least three players finish in double figures.
Wake Forest's defense challenged Louisville's offense throughout the contest, holding the Cardinals to 39.6 percent shooting, including just 34.6 percent from inside the arc. The Demon Deacon defense has now forced eight of its 13 opponents to sub-40 percent shooting.
How It Happened
-
Alondes Williams scored the Deacs' first points with a putback layup two minutes into the contest.
-
After trading baskets over the game's opening minutes, Wake Forest entered the under-16 timeout leading Louisville 9-7 following a transition layup from Daivien Williamson.
-
Williams drained his first triple in stride to put the Deacs up 14-11 with 13:54 remaining in the first half.
-
Dallas Walton finished a dunk off an assist from Williams to cut the Cardinal advantage to one (19-18) with 8:16 left in the first half.
-
Another Walton bucket off an assist from Williams opened up a 9-0 lead that gave Wake Forest a 27-19 advantage with 4:19 to go until the intermission.
-
The run also featured a turnaround jumper from Jake LaRavia, Williamson's first three pointer of the night and a layup by Khadim Sy.
-
-
Walton and Williamson scored on consecutive possessions to push the Deacs' lead to 31-23 with 33 seconds remaining in the first.
-
Wake Forest entered halftime with a 31-26 lead over Louisville.
-
Williams led the team on offense with nine points and five assists, followed by Williamson's seven points and Walton's six.
-
The Deacs played stifling defense in the first half, forcing seven turnovers and holding the Cardinals to just 30.4 percent shooting (7-of-23).
-
Additionally, Wake Forest held Louisville without a basket for over eight minutes in the first half.
-
-
LaRavia scored back-to-back buckets to open the second half, highlighted by a successful and-one after getting fouled on the second basket.
-
His made free throw extended Wake Forest's lead to nine (36-27) one minute into the second half.
-
-
Sy snapped an 8-0 Cardinal run with his first triple of the game, pushing the Demon Deacon advantage to 39-35 with 16:23 left to play.
-
Williams answered a Louisville layup with his own layup, and converted another and-one at the stripe to regain the lead (42-40) with 14 minutes remaining.
-
Williamson dropped in a jumper to give Wake Forest a two-point lead (45-43) with 12:24 until the final buzzer.
-
Cameron Hildreth and Williamson scored layups on consecutive possessions to extend the lead to four (49-45) with 11:20 left in the second half.
-
LaRavia went a perfect 6-for-6 over three consecutive trips to the free throw line, his third trip reclaiming a four-point lead (55-49) over Louisville with 9:34 remaining in the contest.
-
Wake Forest entered the under-8 timeout with a 58-54 lead after Williams knocked down a free throw.
-
Mucius knocked down his second triple to regain the lead (61-60) with 4:47 remaining in the contest.
-
Mucius drained his third three-pointer, once again regaining the lead (64-63) with 2:21 left to play,
-
Williamson responded to a Louisville triple out of the timeout with his second triple, providing the Deacs with a 67-66 lead with 1:30 until the buzzer.
-
Wake Forest eventually fell to Louisville, 73-69, after the teams traded baskets down the stretch.
Stat of the Game
-
The trio of Jake LaRavia (15 points), Alondes Williams (15 points) and Daivien Williamson (14 points) finished in double figures to lead Wake Forest's offense against the Cardinals. In all 13 games this season, Wake Forest has had at least three players finish in double figures.
Coach's Comments
"Tough loss, and one that we should have won. We led for the majority of the game, but give Louisville credit, they made a couple of really big threes late. For the first time all year we fouled too much. It's hard to win that way when you are fouling that much. 10 threes is too many threes. They made some big shots. Our team really battled hard and defended really well. We had some droughts offensively but we only turned the ball over seven times. You have to give Louisville credit, they made shots and hung in there - they never went away. We had a couple of chances to extend the lead to double digits but we could never get there." - head coach Steve Forbes
Up Next
Wake Forest returns to the hardwood with a New Year's Day ACC matchup against the Miami Hurricanes in Coral Gables, Fla.
Tipoff in Watsco Center is set for 6 p.m. and the game will air live on ESPNU.
