Louisville men’s basketball faced a challenging defeat on the road against Wake Forest, falling 90-65 and allowing a season-high 18 three-pointers to the Demon Deacons. Wake Forest displayed sharpshooting prowess, going 18-for-35 from long range and shooting 50% overall from the field, with 20 assists.
Head coach Kenny Payne expressed disappointment in the team’s defensive performance, emphasizing the need to defend against such prolific shooting. The Cardinals struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-for-3 in the first half, while Wake Forest capitalized with 10 three-pointers, building a substantial lead.
Despite efforts to counter with a 6-0 run, Louisville found themselves trailing by 15 points at halftime, as the Demon Deacons maintained their offensive momentum in the second half. Wake Forest continued their three-point barrage, finishing with another eight threes and securing a decisive victory.
Wake Forest’s Hunter Sallis led the scoring with 19 points, while five Demon Deacons reached double figures. Louisville’s Tre White contributed 17 points and six rebounds, with Mike James and Brandon Huntley-Hatfield also making notable contributions.
With the defeat, Louisville (6-12, 1-6 ACC) looks to regroup as they return home for two games next week, starting with a matchup against No. 7/6 Duke at 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday at the KFC Yum! Center. The team aims to address defensive lapses and bounce back in front of the home crowd.
