WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest men’s basketball team defeated North Carolina, 98-76, on Saturday evening inside Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the team’s largest victory over North Carolina since the 2001-02 season.
The Demon Deacons’ (16-4, 6-3 ACC) 98 points against the Tar Heels (12-5, 4-3 ACC) mark the most points scored in regulation by a Wake Forest team since the 2004-05 team scored 103 at Clemson on Jan. 8, 2005 and the most points scored against North Carolina since 1965 (107-85).
In total, the team shot 54.2 percent from the field and 38.5 percent from beyond the arc while holding North Carolina to just 33.3 percent from the field. It was the sixth time this season the Deacs have held an ACC opponent to below 40-percent shooting.
Jake LaRavia led Wake Forest in all facets of the game as the junior forward finished with a career-high 31 points, 10 rebounds and four assists on 9-of-13 shooting. LaRavia is only the fourth player over the past ten years to post 30 points and 10 rebounds against the Tar Heels, joining Jabari Parker, RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson.
Alondes Williams followed close behind with 23 points, six rebounds and three assists on 9-of-15 shooting. Williams has now scored 20 points or more in 10-of-20 games this season and has blocked a career-high tying three shots in two consecutive contests.
Rounding out Deacons in double figures, Daivien Williamson poured in 19 points on an efficient 7-of-9 shooting and Damari Monsanto contributed 13 points and five rebounds in his second game suiting up as a Demon Deacon.
How It Happened
- Alondes Williams struck first for the Deacs with a driving layup.
- Williams’ first three-pointer of the evening gave Wake Forest their first lead (9-7) going into the under-16 timeout.
- Jake LaRavia regained the lead with a layup and triple on consecutive possessions, with his triple giving the Deacs an 18-13 advantage with just under 12 minutes left in the first half.
- Daivien Williamson went on a 7-0 run by himself to retake the lead and extend it to five (28-23) with just under seven minutes until the intermission.
- Out of the under-8 timeout, LaRavia knocked down a hookshot to extend the run to 9-0 and Wake Forest’s lead to seven (32-25) with 5:39 on the clock.
- Williamson and Williams knocked down back-to-back makes from downtown to extend the Deacs’ lead to 13 (41-28) with 3:19 remaining in the opening period.
- Williams converted a three-point play at the stripe, pushing Wake Forest’s lead to 12 (44:32 with 1:51 left until halftime.
- Wake Forest entered the intermission leading North Carolina 46-36.
- The Demon Deacons held the Tar Heels to just 30 percent shooting (12-of-40) in the first half while shooting 52 percent themselves (16-of-31)
- LaRavia led the first-half scoring effort with 18 points. Williams and Williamson also entered the break in double figures, with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
- Williamson scored the team’s first points of the second half, restoring the Deacs’ 10-point lead (50-40).
- Williamson knocked down a triple and rolled in a layup on the following possession to extend the team’s lead to 13 (59-46) with 16:31 left to play.
- Damari Monsanto rained in three straight triples, giving Wake Forest their largest lead of the evening (71-53) with 11:50 remaining in regulation.
- LaRavia pushed the lead to 21 (77-56) with nine minutes left in the contest after making both shots at the free throw line.
- LaRavia went 7-for-8 at the stripe over four straight trips to extend Wake Forest’s advantage to 18 (84-66) with 5:26 to play.
- Wake Forest defeated North Carolina, 98-76.
Key Moment
In his second game as a Demon Deacon, Damari Monsanto delivered in the second half.
After forcing a stop with 12:58 on the clock, Monsanto knocked down three triples in a row over the next one minute and eight seconds of game action to increase Wake Forest’s lead to 19 points (71-52) with 11:50 remaining in the contest.
Wake Forest controlled the game from that moment forward and did not allow the Tar Heels to get closer than 14 points for the remainder of the contest.
Stat of the Game
Saturday’s victory marks the first time Wake Forest has beaten North Carolina in back-to-back home games since Feb. 6, 2002 (Feb. 6) and March 5, 2003.
Additionally, the 22-point victory marks the largest victory over North Carolina by the Demon Deacons since the 2001-02 team defeated the Tar Heels by 24 (90-66) on Feb. 6, 2002.
Furthermore, Wake Forest’s 98 points are the second-most points the program has ever scored against North Carolina, behind only the 1964-65 team’s 107-85 victory Jan. 6, 1965.
Lastly, Wake Forest’s 98 points against North Carolina are their most points scored against an ACC opponent in regulation since the team scored 103 at Clemson during the 2004-05 season.
Coach’s Comments
“Tonight was a signature win for this program. I think we did a good job defending them but we did struggle keeping them off the glass. When we did get the rebound, we capitalized. We did a great job in transition and our bench was huge tonight. We had great balance on offense with scoring coming from multiple guys. I am very proud of the guys and how they played for 40 minutes. ” – head coach Steve Forbes
Up Next
Wake Forest is staying home for their next game, the rescheduled matchup with Boston College, on Monday, January 24.
Tipoff in LJVM Coliseum is set for 6 p.m. and the game will air live on ACC Network.
