Despite last-second efforts by junior Badger guards Kammron Taylor and Alando Tucker, senior Wake Forest star Justin Gray's career scoring performance overpowered Wisconsin's defense and overshadowed the offense as the Demon Deacons beat the Badgers 91-88 Tuesday night.
Despite facing a ruthlessly loyal Wake Forest home crowd, the game started well for Wisconsin: winning the tip-off, and scoring the first two points.
They possessed the ball and controlled the rhythm of the game from the first few minutes.
Wake Forest's defense was very effective, holding the Badgers to 43 percent field goal shooting and taking advantage of the weak free-throw shooting that has plagued Wisconsin through these first five games (17 for 24). It also shut down Tucker, who scored only four points in the first half.
While Wisconsin struggled to find a rhythm on offense, Wake Forest's Gray scored 20 points on his way to scoring a career-high 37 total points on the game, including hitting two of five three-pointers and 13 for 13 free throws. His solid performance was central to the Deacons getting the win.
With Wisconsin falling behind and clawing their way back from 10-point deficits twice during the game, it stayed within five for the last part of the half. With 50 seconds left in the game, Demon Deacon freshman Eric Williams scored to keep their lead at five. Wisconsin's Tucker answered in less than 10 seconds to bring the lead back to three. Ryan called a time out.
With 41 seconds remaining, Wisconsin re-entered with a hard full-court press, forcing Wake Forest to use one of their time outs to avoid a backcourt violation. Wisconsin, because of time, then had to foul Gray, whose free throws were perfect all night, putting the Badgers deeper in the hole.
But Taylor took the ball inbounds, sprinted down court and got a lay-up off the Deacon defense.
After the Badgers fouled and put a Deacon on the line, Tucker immediately followed with a 26-foot three-pointer. Wake led by two, and then Gray hit two more free throws.
Taylor then answered with his own three-pointer, bringing Wisconsin to within one with less than 5 seconds remaining.
But they were forced to put Gray on the line once more, and he put the Badgers down by three with his free throws again. This time it was too much and there was no deep three-pointer for Taylor'only the back of the rim.
Despite the loss, Wisconsin is still optimistic.
'In certain areas and aspects we took a step forward and in certain areas we still have to step up,' Tucker said. 'It showed us what we need to work on.'
