Wake Forest Pulls Off Historic Upset

Demon Deacons stun No. 18 Duke in 99-94 overtime thriller

Wake Forest basketball made history on Tuesday night, upsetting No. 18 Duke 99-94 in overtime in front of a sold-out crowd at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The Demon Deacons (10-8, 4-4 ACC) never trailed in the game, but the Blue Devils (14-4, 5-3 ACC) kept it close throughout. Wake Forest led by just four points with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but Duke's Jeremy Roach hit a three-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime.

In overtime, Wake Forest took control of the game. The Demon Deacons hit four of their first five shots from the field, including a three-pointer from Damari Monsanto that gave them a 92-86 lead with less than two minutes remaining. Duke never got closer than four points the rest of the way.

The win was Wake Forest's first over a ranked opponent since 2019. It was also the Demon Deacons' first win over Duke since 2014.

Tyree Appleby led the way for Wake Forest with 25 points. Monsanto added 22 points, while Andrew Carr had 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Paolo Banchero led Duke with 21 points. Roach added 18 points, while Wendell Moore Jr. had 17 points.

The win was a major statement for Wake Forest, who is now 4-4 in the ACC and in contention for an NCAA Tournament berth. The Demon Deacons will look to build on their momentum when they host Notre Dame on Saturday.

Conclusion

Wake Forest's historic upset of Duke is a reminder that anything is possible in college basketball. The Demon Deacons played with heart and determination, and they never gave up, even when the Blue Devils made a late run.

The win is a major confidence boost for Wake Forest, and it should give them the momentum they need to make a run at the NCAA Tournament.