Wake Forest University
18-12,10-9ACC
Boston College
15-15,9-10ACC
Senior Backcourt Paces Wake Forest in Final Regular-Season Home Showing
2/28/2023 10:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Daivien Williamson totaled his second-highest point total of the year against Boston College.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Returning to its home floor for a final time in the 2022-23 regular season, the Wake Forest men's basketball team took on Boston College (15-15, 9-10) in a second meeting this year on Tuesday evening (Feb. 28). Going down to the final wire, the Demon Deacons ultimately fell in a 71-69 finish.
Wake Forest (18-12, 10-9) honored six of its own prior to tipoff for Senior Night. Players Tyree Appleby, Daivien Williamson, and Grant van Beveren, along with team managers Isaiah Tisdale, Harrison Seagle, and Josh Knight were all recognized for their contributions to the basketball program.
Appleby and Williamson shined during the night, posting 23 and 20 points, respectively. The showing featured Williamson's second-highest point total of the year. Appleby also added six assists and four rebounds.
Making his second season start, Bobi Klintman chipped in seven points and eight rebounds. The freshman forward has now grabbed eight or more boards in three of his last four appearances.
Lucas Taylor and Cameron Hildreth contributed six points apiece, with the latter also snagging four rebounds.
Wake Forest will finish out the regular season on the road this weekend, visiting Syracuse for the finale on Saturday evening (March 4). Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET and the game will air on Bally Sports regional networks.
Standout Stats
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Daivien Williamson erupted for 20 points during Tuesday night – his second-highest point total of 2022-23.
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Williamson's season-best was back in November in a home win over Georgia (24 points).
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Additionally, Williamson and Tyree Appleby were the first Deacon pair to net 20 or more points since Jan. 11 when the team defeated Florida State at home.
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That win featured high scoring performances by Cameron Hildreth (23 points), Andrew Carr (22 points), and Damari Monsanto (22 points).
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How It Happened
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Williamson got the scoring started for the Deacs with a driving layup in the first minute of action for an early 2-0 lead.
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After three defensive stops in a row, Klintman extended the lead to 4-0 with a pair of free throws.
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A three-pointer from Appleby put the Deacs up 7-2 at the 16:56 mark.
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Klintman followed with a three-pointer of his own to extend the lead, 10-2.
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On the very next possession, an Appleby steal led to a layup by the graduate guard for a 12-2 lead at the under-16 media timeout.
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Hildreth ended a scoring drought with a driving layup to keep the lead at the 13:16 mark.
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A Hildreth dime led to a Marsh alley oop to extend the Deacs lead, 17-14, coming out of the under-12 media timeout.
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A corner three from Taylor put the Deacs back in front, 20-17, at the 7:36 mark.
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The Deacs tied it at 22 with an Appleby-Marsh dunk ahead of the under-8 media timeout.
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Another Taylor three gave the Deacs the one-point lead, 25-24 with four minutes to go in the half.
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A pair of free throws from Hildreth at the 1:28 mark put the Deacs back in the lead, 28-26.
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Back-to-back pull-up jumpers from Williamson extended the Deacs' lead, 32-26, to take it to halftime.
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Williamson had a team-high seven points in the first half.
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Klintman had a game-high seven rebounds in the opening 20 minutes and Appleby had a game-high three assists.
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Appleby started the scoring in the second half with a pullup three to extend the Deacs lead.
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A driving layup from Williamson and three-pointer from Carr on back-to-back possessions put the Deacs up 40-31 with 16:53 left to play.
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A pair of free throws from Appleby ended an Eagles run and cut the Deacs' deficit to 44-42 at the 13:12 mark.
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Back-to-back threes from Appleby ended another Boston College run and cut the Deacs' deficit to 58-49 with 8 minutes left to play.
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Another Appleby bucket out of the under-8 media timeout kept the momentum rolling in Wake's favor.
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Appleby's personal 8-0 run was followed by a shot clock violation by Boston College to keep the momentum in favor of Wake.
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A three-pointer from Williamson cut the deficit to six, 60-54, with six minutes to play and forced a Boston College timeout.
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Another bucket from Williamson kept the Deacs going, 62-56.
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A drive from Appleby got the Deacs within four, 58-62, with under four to play.
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Williamson's second three of the night kept the Deacs within four, 65-61, and forced a Boston College timeout at the 3:24 mark.
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A Taylor-Klintman alley oop brought the Deacs within two, 65-63, with 2:25 left to play.
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A corner three from Williamson put the Deacs down one, 67-66, with under a minute to go.
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Appleby converted an and-one play with 19 seconds to tie the game at 69.
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The Deacs fell to Boston College, 71-69.
Coach's Comments
"Credit to Boston College tonight. They came in and I thought they were the more physical team, the tougher team for 40 minutes. It kind of played out that way, especially in the second half.
I felt like we only had two guys really show up to play tonight, the two seniors, Davien and Ty. It's very disappointing that we couldn't have a better effort from the rest of the team on a big night for them, a big night for us, when we need a win to play on Wednesday in the ACC tournament. We just had nobody else show up. Ty and Davien were 9-for-11 from two and the rest of the team was 4-for-14. Our offense was really poor. Really, the only way we scored is if we called a play or in transition. In motion, we had too many guys holding the ball and not knowing what to do with it, then turning down open shots when they had them that led to Ty or somebody else taking a bad shot at the end of the shot clock. We haven't played that way all year long, but some of that is the product of Damari not playing. He can move and shoot the ball.
Defensively, the second half was horrendous. I think they started the half 12-of-15 from the field, I know they were 19-for-28 from the field for the second half. That's the lack of physicality and discipline. We did a poor job of going over the lateral screen. We monstered the post when the post got going a little bit and we ran away from a three-point shooter standing next to them and they made a three.
The bigs were not very good in the ball-screen tonight. They, for some reason, just ran over with their man instead of putting their head on the ball, so they're laying it up in our basket. The last play of the game is not a disciplined defensive play. We did a good job of stopping them, but we talk about this every day, you can't give him the angle and you have to hold your ground. He jumped and left his feet for no reason and he scores. I'm really disappointed this late in the year for that kind of effort and that kind of performance in a game that's important. All the credit for us, if there is any credit, goes to Ty and Davien. They played outstanding. They played their hearts out." - head coach Steve Forbes
Upcoming
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Saturday, March 4 - at Syracuse - 5 p.m. // Bally Sports
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Tuesday, March 7 - ACC Tournament begins in Greensboro
