Wake Forest Triumphs Over Stanford
In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Wake Forest succeeded in overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat Stanford, finishing the game at 68-63. Juke Harris emerged as the standout player, contributing 25 points, including a critical late-game performance where he scored nine consecutive points against Stanford’s two.
Game Highlights
At the intermission, the Cardinal held a strong lead of 39-30, but they struggled to maintain their momentum in the second half. Harris was pivotal in the comeback, tying the score at 61 with a layup just 1:48 before the conclusion. He then propelled Wake Forest ahead with a jumper, marking their first lead since early in the game at 9-6.
In a late-game push, Harris showcased his free-throw shooting strength, hitting 5 of 6 from the line in the final 25 seconds. Only interrupted by a layup from teammate Ebuka Okorie, who scored to make it 66-63 with just 10 ticks left on the clock, Harris sealed the game by converting two more free throws after being fouled with nine seconds remaining. Harris ended the game converting 12 out of 13 free-throw attempts, contributing to Wake Forest’s impressive tally of 28 successful shots from 32 attempts. In contrast, Stanford managed to hit only 9 of their 14 free throws.
Player Performances
Leading the Cardinal (16-10, 5-8 ACC) was Okorie, ranking as the seventh highest scorer in the nation and averaging 22.4 points per game, who netted 26 points. His performance was complemented by Benny Gealer with 11 points and Aidan Cammann, who not only scored 10 points but also pulled down 11 rebounds.
Wake Forest’s team (now at 13-12, 4-8) also saw contributions from Mekhi Mason, who chipped in with 10 points. Notably, after a three-pointer from Cammann tied the game early, Stanford surged ahead with an 11-0 run, leading to their halftime margin. Despite maintaining a 58-51 lead with 6:42 left on the clock, Stanford’s shooting deteriorated significantly, as they only managed to make 2 of their final 12 attempts, both from Okorie.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Wake Forest will host Clemson on Wednesday, while Stanford prepares for an away game against Cal next Saturday.
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