The Wake Forest Demon Deacons secured a convincing 83-67 win over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, led by Juke Harris's impressive 23 points and 13 rebounds. This performance marked a significant victory for Wake Forest, who improved their record to 12-12, while Georgia Tech fell to 11-13. The Demon Deacons' 46 points in the second half was the difference-maker, outscoring the Yellow Jackets by 12 points in the final 20 minutes. Wake Forest's NET ranking of 66 will likely see a boost after this win, while Georgia Tech's ranking of 151 may take a hit.
Juke Harris's 23 Points and 13 Rebounds Marked His 5th Double-Double of the Season
The game unfolded with Wake Forest taking an early lead, scoring 37 points in the first half to Georgia Tech's 33. The Demon Deacons' Juke Harris was dominant from the start, scoring 10 points in the first half, while Kowacie Reeves Jr. led the Yellow Jackets with 12 points. In the second half, Wake Forest continued to pull away, with Mekhi Mason adding 10 points to the Demon Deacons' total. Georgia Tech struggled to keep pace, scoring only 34 points in the second half, despite Baye Ndongo's 9 rebounds. The Yellow Jackets' 9 turnovers in the second half also hindered their ability to mount a comeback. At one point, Wake Forest led by as many as 19 points, with 5:45 remaining in the game.
Juke Harris was the standout performer for Wake Forest, scoring 23 points and grabbing 13 rebounds, including 7 defensive rebounds. Mekhi Mason added 17 points for the Demon Deacons, while Tre'Von Spillers chipped in with 13 points. For Georgia Tech, Kowacie Reeves Jr. led the way with 18 points and 6 rebounds, including 4 offensive rebounds. Baye Ndongo was also impressive, scoring 14 points and grabbing 9 rebounds, while Akai Fleming contributed 9 points and 5 assists. The Yellow Jackets' top performers were not enough to overcome the Demon Deacons' balanced attack, which saw 4 players score in double figures.
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Wake Forest's 83 points were the most they have scored in a game since January 25th, when they scored 85 points against the Clemson Tigers. The Demon Deacons shot 49% from the field, including 40% from 3-point range, with 8 made 3-pointers. Georgia Tech, on the other hand, shot only 38% from the field and 25% from 3-point range, with 5 made 3-pointers. The Yellow Jackets were outrebounded by Wake Forest 43-37, including 15-10 on the offensive glass. Wake Forest's 16-point margin of victory was their largest since December 20th, when they defeated the Elon Phoenix by 20 points.
The CHD Scout prediction model correctly predicted a Wake Forest victory, albeit by a much narrower margin of 0.4 points. In reality, the Demon Deacons won by 16 points, exceeding expectations. The model's predicted score of 77-77 was also off the mark, as Wake Forest's offense was more potent than anticipated. Despite this, the model's correct prediction of a Wake Forest win is a reflection of its accuracy. The Demon Deacons' 12-12 record and NET ranking of 66 suggest that they are a team on the rise, and this win will only add to their momentum.
This win was a Quadrant 3 victory for Wake Forest, which will help to bolster their resume as they push for a postseason berth. For Georgia Tech, the loss was a Quadrant 2 defeat, which may hurt their chances of making a deep run in the tournament. Wake Forest's NET ranking of 66 will likely improve, while Georgia Tech's ranking of 151 may drop. The Demon Deacons' record now stands at 12-12, with a 5-8 record in Quadrant 1 and 2 games. Georgia Tech's record falls to 11-13, with a 2-10 record in Quadrant 1 games. This loss may also impact the Yellow Jackets' seeding in the upcoming conference tournament.
Wake Forest's next game is scheduled for February 15th, when they will face the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Georgia Tech want to bounce back on February 14th, when they host the Syracuse Orange. Both teams want to build on their current momentum, with Wake Forest seeking to extend their winning streak and Georgia Tech aiming to snap a losing skid. The Demon Deacons' upcoming game against the Wolfpack will be a crucial test of their mettle, as they seek to prove themselves as a legitimate contender in the conference.