Wake Forest Battles Georgetown in First Exhibition Game

Sunday, October 4

Winston-Salem, N.C.

12:30 p.m.

Wake Forest University

0-0,0-0ACC

Georgetown

0-0,0-0Big East

Team	1	2	F
Georgetown	47	47	94
Wake Forest	33	44	77

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Wake Forest Battles Georgetown in First Exhibition Game

10/4/2026 4:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

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Kevair Kennedy shined with 19 points and four steals Sunday afternoon

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest men's basketball team dropped its first exhibition game of the year Sunday afternoon, 94-77, to Georgetown at LJVM Coliseum. The preseason learning experience marked the first of two October exhibition games for the Deacs ahead of the official 2026-27 season opener against Maryland Eastern Shore on Nov. 2.

As a team, the Demon Deacons finished the contest 27-of-60 (45 percent) from the floor, with 33 points coming off 22 Georgetown turnovers. Individually, seven different Deacs recorded at least one steal with three swiping three or more.

Offensively, Wake Forest was led by Kevair Kennedy, who finished with a team-high 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting in addition to four steals, two assists and a pair of rebounds.

Freshmen standouts Gavin and Gallagher Placide combined for 27 points on Sunday. Gavin finished 4-of-5 from the floor with three steals while his twin brother Gallagher hauled in a team-high six rebounds.

Jamari McDowell put in a strong all-around performance with eight points, four assists, three rebounds, three steals and finished plus-10.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Jamari McDowell scored the first points for the Deacs less than a minute into the game.
A McDowell layup, three points from Kevair Kennedy and a triple from Justin Ray comprised an 8-2 Wake Forest streak over a nearly two-minute stretch that gave the Deacs a 12-9 lead with 13:49 on the first-half clock.
The Hoyas got hot from deep, drilling four 3-pointers in the next two minutes to surge ahead 21-16 before rookie Gavin Placide momentarily snapped the Georgetown momentum. GU responded with eight-straight points to force a Wake Forest timeout with 8:16 to play as the Hoya lead increased to 29-18.
Wake Forest pulled within six at 32-26 three minutes later, but Georgetown answered right back with the next seven points to pull ahead 39-26.
The Hoyas were 10-for-16 from deep heading into halftime compared to Wake Forest's 2-for-11 clip from 3-point range as Georgetown took a 47-33 lead into the break.
Kevair Kennedy scored five-straight points to open the second half before a McDowell steal led to a beautiful Gavin Placide alley-oop to cap a 7-0 Deacs run within the first minute of the second stanza and pulled Wake Forest within 47-40.
The Hoyas responded once again with nine of the game's next 11 points and eventually stretched their advantage to 18 at 70-52 with 12:42 to play.
A Ring Nyeri slam ignited a 10-2 Wake Forest streak that also saw a Lukas Bojovic triple and strong hustle plays from Gallagher Placide as the Deacs found themselves back within 10 at 72-62 with 10:19 left on the clock.
The Hoyas scored 16 of the game's next 19 points to halt the Wake Forest momentum. Georgetown would go on to claim the 94-77 exhibition game decision.

FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Steve Forbes Postgame Press Conference

Kevair Kennedy & Gavin Placide Postgame Press Conference
UP NEXT

The Demon Deacons head to Rock Hill, S.C. for their second exhibition game of the preseason on Thursday, Oct. 15, when Wake Forest takes on South Carolina from the Rock Hill Sports and Events Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. and tickets are on sale now.
The 2026-27 Wake Forest men's basketball season officially begins on Monday, Nov. 2, inside LJVM Coliseum when the Deacs host Maryland Eastern Shore. Season tickets for the 2026-27 Wake Forest men's basketball season are on sale now.