Wake Forest Triumphs Over Syracuse in Thrilling Matchup
In a thrilling college basketball matchup, Wake Forest managed to overturn a halftime deficit to secure an 88-83 victory against Syracuse on Saturday night in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Myles Colvin’s Stellar Performance
Myles Colvin was the star of the game, showcasing an outstanding performance with 32 points, highlighted by converting seven of his eight attempts from beyond the arc. His only miss came in the closing moments of the contest with just 1:22 left on the clock. Colvin also recorded an impressive overall shooting percentage, hitting 9 of 12 shots and going a perfect 7 for 7 from the free-throw line.
Supporting Colvin’s efforts were Tre’Von Spillers, who added 16 points, and Juke Harris, who contributed 13 points. Additionally, bench players Cooper Schwieger and Sebastian Akins chipped in with 11 and 10 points respectively, proving critical in their late-game surge.
Syracuse’s Strong Start
For Syracuse, which shares a similar record of 15-14 and 6-10 in the ACC with Wake Forest, the standout performers included Donnie Freeman, who led the team with 28 points, and Nate King with 20 points. Naithan George also had a solid outing, finishing with 13 points and 10 assists, while Sadiq White Jr. provided 12 points off the bench.
Syracuse initially gained momentum in the first half after trailing 14-13 by sinking seven 3-pointers within the last twelve minutes, finishing the half with a 46-42 lead. They showcased their sharpshooting by successfully landing 10 of 18 shots from beyond the arc before the break, a stark contrast to their second-half performance where they only hit 3 of 8.
Wake Forest’s Comeback
After establishing a 56-49 lead shortly after halftime, Syracuse’s advantage began to dwindle. Around the 11-minute mark, Colvin started a crucial run for the Deacons with a timely 3-pointer, which marked the beginning of an impressive nine-minute span where Wake Forest hit 10 of their last 11 shot attempts, including eight consecutive baskets.
Although Syracuse made a late push—Freeman’s driving layup brought them within four points at 84-80 during the final minute—Wake Forest’s Schwieger secured the win with an offensive rebound and a putback, extending their lead to six points with just 30 seconds remaining.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Syracuse is scheduled to visit No. 24 Louisville on Tuesday followed by hosting Pitt for their final regular-season game. Meanwhile, Wake Forest will take on No. 11 Virginia on the same day before returning home to host Cal later this week.
