By Philip Murray
Tuesday’s showdown between the Cavaliers and the Demon Deacons would no doubt prove to be a classic ACC game that would come down to the final second. Wake was very aggressive looking to end its current losing streak. 11th ranked Virginia came in looking to get its first ACC road win.
Wake started out with a 9 point lead but then after Anthony Gill got fouled on a made shot attempt in the first half to also get his 1000th point of his career, Virginia got into gear. The Cavs went on a 10-0 run to take the lead. The Demon deacons still ended the half strong with a 6 point lead.
The Deacs’ lead could have been larger but they shot 0-8 from 3 in the first half. In the second half Wake Forest improved their shooting from beyond the arc. Crawford hit 2 back to back three pointers and a transition dunk that lit the Deacons and the crowd on fire. The dunk put the Deacons up 50-36.
Virginia as they did in the first half charged back to under a double digit deficit. Down by 7 with 20 seconds left, Mario Shayok hits a clutch corner 3 to put the Cavaliers within 4. Virginia at this point had to foul and they caught a break. Wake’s Devin Thomas missed two FTs that could have sealed the game for Wake Forest. Virginia grabbed the rebound and Malcolm Brogdon hit a 3 from beyond the arc to put the Cavaliers down by 1.
Virginia fouled Wake again and Crawford hit only one out of 2 of his FTs to make it a 2 point lead. With only 4 seconds left, Virginia quickly pushed the ball up the court. Darius Thompson, left wide open in the corner, shoots his only shot attempt of the night. Nailed it. Thompson hit the game winning buzzer beating 3 pointer off the glass to give the Cavaliers the 72-71 win.
The Cavaliers astonishingly went 1-13 from three all game but ended up going 4-4 in the final minute. Virginia went on a 9-1 run in the final 15 seconds to win the nail biter. The leaders of the night were Virgina’s Malcolm Brogdon with a game high of 28 points, and for Wake Forest’s Bryant Crawford with 22 points. Crawford led all players in FG percentage shooting a career high 80% from the floor.
After the stunning loss, Wake Forest now falls to 10-10 and are still second to last in the conference. Wake plays again on Saturday against Notre Dame.
