Louisville Triumphs Over Wake Forest
In a thrilling encounter on Saturday, No. 24 Louisville claimed an 88-80 victory against Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, despite a tense finish. The Cardinals initially held a commanding 15-point lead in the second half, led by Sananda Fru’s contribution of 17 points, and J’Vonne Hadley’s 15 points.
Key Moments of the Game
However, the team faced a challenge in the closing minutes, failing to register a field goal in the final 6:38 of play. The key to their win came from the free-throw line, where Louisville excelled after halftime, converting 19 of their 22 attempts for an impressive 86.4%. This performance was crucial, particularly as Wake Forest attempted a comeback spearheaded by Juke Harris.
Harris scored 25 points and secured 11 rebounds, helping the Demon Deacons tie the game on multiple occasions, with the latest equalizer occurring with 4:44 remaining in the game due to Sebastian Akins’ successful free throws.
Final Stretch and Aftermath
The Cardinals, who finished the game with six players reaching double figures in scoring, managed to withhold Wake Forest’s attempts to take the lead, even as the Demon Deacons missed their final 11 shots of the game, including two critical free throws from Tre’Von Spillers. These missed opportunities allowed Louisville to seal the game, marking Wake Forest’s fifth consecutive loss, compounded by the absence of a key player, Nate Calmese, who is sidelined due to an ankle injury.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Louisville is set to host N.C. State on Monday, while Wake Forest will be visiting Georgia Tech on Wednesday, as both teams aim to improve their standings in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
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