NICEVILLE, Fla. – Wake Forest dropped its first game of the 2021-22 season in the Emerald Coast Classic Championship against LSU 75-61 on Saturday night on the campus of Northwest Florida State.
Offensively, Wake Forest (6-1) was led by Winston-Salem native Daivien Williamson with a game-high 20 points, including 14 straight over a five-minute span in the second half. Overall, Williamson connected on a career-high 12 free throws while adding four made baskets. Additionally, this performance marked his fifth 20-point game of his Wake Forest career and the second of the 2021-22 season.
Jake LaRavia (15) and Alondes Williams (14) also finished in double figures as the Demon Deacons have had at least three players reach the mark in every game this season. The duo also pulled down eight rebounds a piece.
The Deacs outrebounded LSU (7-0) tonight, the first time the Tigers have been outrebounded this season. Additionally, the Deacs grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, a new season high and the most since the 2018-19 season.
Individually, Dallas Walton led the Deacs on the boards for the first time in the 2021-22 campaign as the Arvada, Colo. native pulled down a career-high 10 rebounds. Additionally, Walton grabbed a trio of offensive rebounds.
Wake Forest attacked the basket against the Tigers, connecting on 19-of-23 at the free throw line, with 17 of those makes coming in the second half.
Williamson and Williams were named to the Emerald Coast Classic All-Tournament team for their performances in the 80-77 overtime victory versus Oregon State on Friday and tonight’s matchup with LSU.
How It Happened
Jake LaRavia scored the Deacs’ first field goal from behind the arc as his triple cut LSU’s early lead down to 6-4 entering the under-16 timeout.
LaRavia’s basket opened up a six-minute, 10-0 run that gave the Deacs their first lead of the night (11-6) with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first half. The defense held LSU scoreless (0-for-11 FG) during the run and forced five turnovers.
LSU responded with a 15-0 run that gave the Tigers a 21-11 lead with over six minutes left in the first half.
Undaunted, Wake Forest produced an 8-0 run of their own, jump started by a Dallas Walton three-pointer as the Demon Deacons cut the deficit to two (21-19) with 4:09 to go until the half.
The run also featured a pair of dunks by LaRavia, as well as a made free throw by Williamson.
The Demon Deacons entered halftime trailing the Tigers 31-21.
LaRavia led the team in first half scoring, with nine points on four-of-six shooting. The junior also grabbed five rebounds.
Of Wake Forest’s eight first half baskets, seven were assisted as the trio of LaRavia, Alondes Williams and Cameron Hildreth each dished out a pair.
The Deacs grabbed a season-high eleven offensive rebounds in the first half alone, and were led on the offensive glass by LaRavia (four) and Walton (three).
LaRavia and Williams tallied five-straight points with a triple and layup to cut the deficit back to single digits (37-28) just over three minutes into the second half.
Williams drilled his first three-pointer of the night and cut the deficit down to 10 (41-31) with 15:01 remaining in the game.
Williamson knocked down back-to-back jumpers to narrow LSU’s lead down to 13 (55-42) with 11:45 left to play.
Those buckets came as part of a sequence in which WIlliamson scored fourteen consecutive points for the Deacs over 5:40 of gametime.
After LSU built their largest lead of the night (65-46), the Deacs responded with a 9-2 run that cut the deficit down to 12 (67-55) with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.
Williamson, LaRavia, and Williams combined for 7-of-7 shooting at the free throw line during the three-minute run, and Williams added a layup.
Wake Forest eventually fell to LSU, 75-61.
Stat of the Game
Wake Forest outrebounded LSU tonight, the first time the Tigers have been outrebounded this season. Additionally, the Deacs grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, their most this season and the most since 2018-19 (16 against NC A&T, Nov. 10, 2018).
LaRavia (five), Williams (three), Walton (three), and Sy (three) each grabbed multiple offensive rebounds in the defeat.
Coach’s Comments
“In the first half, we battled and we stayed in the game. We were turning the ball over and having a hard time making shots, but we were still in it. We played really hard. Our guys competed but we just couldn’t overcome the turnovers. Playing in games like this is good and it’s not the end of the world. We have to learn from it. We have to look in the mirror and figure out what those issues are and get ready for another really tough game on Tuesday at home against Northwestern.” – Coach Forbes
Up Next
The Demon Deacons return home to LJVM Coliseum for the ACC/BIG Ten Challenge Tuesday, Nov. 30 against Northwestern.
Tip-off against the Wildcats is set for 9:00 p.m. ET and the game will air live on ESPNU.
