The Wake Forest Demon Deacons secured a 68-63 victory over the Stanford Cardinal, with Juke Harris leading the charge with 25 points and 7 rebounds. This win marked a strong performance by Wake Forest, who outscored Stanford 38-24 in the second half to seal the deal. Stanford's Ebuka Okorie put up an impressive 26 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Demon Deacons' balanced attack. The Cardinal shot 39.7% from the field, compared to Wake Forest's 43.1%, which ultimately made the difference in the 5-point margin.
Juke Harris's 25 Points Marked His 5th 20-Point Game of the Season
The game unfolded with Stanford taking an early lead, scoring 39 points in the first half to Wake Forest's 30. However, the Demon Deacons adjusted their strategy and came out strong in the second half, outscoring the Cardinal 38-24. A key run midway through the second half, where Wake Forest scored 10 unanswered points, shifted the momentum in their favor. Juke Harris was instrumental in this surge, scoring 15 of his 25 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Ebuka Okorie's 26 points for Stanford were countered by the Demon Deacons' collective effort, with Mekhi Mason and Tre'Von Spillers contributing 10 and 9 points, respectively. The Cardinal's Aidan Cammann grabbed 11 rebounds, but Wake Forest's overall team defense held strong, limiting Stanford to 24 second-half points.
Juke Harris and Ebuka Okorie stole the show with their impressive performances. Harris's 25 points and 7 rebounds led Wake Forest, while Okorie's 26 points were the highlight of Stanford's offense. Other notable performers included Wake Forest's Mekhi Mason with 10 points and Tre'Von Spillers with 9 points and 6 rebounds. For Stanford, Benny Gealer added 11 points, and Aidan Cammann's double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds was a significant contribution. These individual efforts showcased the talent on both teams, with Harris and Okorie standing out as the top performers.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The box score revealed some interesting statistics, with Wake Forest shooting 43.1% from the field and Stanford at 39.7%. The Demon Deacons also outrebounded the Cardinal 36-32, with Tre'Von Spillers and Aidan Cammann leading their respective teams in rebounding. Wake Forest committed 12 turnovers, while Stanford had 15, which ultimately affected the Cardinal's ability to maintain their first-half lead. The free throw percentage also favored Wake Forest, with the Demon Deacons making 70% of their shots from the line compared to Stanford's 60%.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly forecasted a Wake Forest win, with a predicted margin of 3.6 points. The actual margin of 5 points was close to the prediction, validating the model's assessment. The predicted score of 78-75 was higher than the actual 68-63 outcome, but the model's overall prediction of a Wake Forest victory was accurate. This demonstrates the model's ability to analyze team performance and make informed predictions, with a slight underestimation of the teams' defensive capabilities in this case.
This win marked a significant Quadrant 2 victory for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, improving their NET ranking to 67. For Stanford, the loss was a Quadrant 1 defeat, which may impact their tournament resume. The Cardinal's current NET ranking of 69 makes their remaining games crucial in terms of securing a strong tournament position. Wake Forest's ability to secure a win against a tough opponent like Stanford will undoubtedly boost their confidence and tournament prospects. With 13 wins and 12 losses, the Demon Deacons are looking to build momentum from this victory, while Stanford aims to bounce back from the loss and improve their 16-10 record.
Wake Forest's next game is scheduled against an opponent to be determined, while Stanford want to regroup and prepare for their upcoming matchup. Both teams will aim to use this experience to improve and make a strong push towards the tournament. The Demon Deacons and Cardinal will face new challenges in their respective upcoming games, with Wake Forest seeking to capitalize on their recent win and Stanford looking to rebound from the loss.