Virginia Cavaliers Edge Wake Forest in Thrilling 83-75 Victory

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Isaac McKneely scored 27 points as the Virginia Cavaliers defeated Wake Forest 83-75 on Wednesday night, snapping their two-game losing streak and marking the team’s highest scoring total of the season.

McKneely showcased his shooting skill, hitting 10 of 14 attempts from the field, including four three-pointers, to lead the Cavaliers (14-14, 7-10 Atlantic Coast Conference). Dai Dai Ames contributed 14 points, Andrew Rohde added 13, and Jacob Cofie chipped in 12 points and helped Virginia shoot 55.8 percent overall.

The match took place at the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, where Wake Forest (19-9, 11-6 ACC) struggled to maintain defensive consistency despite shooting well themselves, connecting on 55.6 percent of their shots. Hunter Sallis led the Demon Deacons with 25 points, while Cameron Hildreth and Efton Reid III added 22 and 12 points, respectively, with Reid also grabbing 10 rebounds.

Virginia held a 31-26 lead before Rohde’s jump shot with just over three minutes left in the first half sparked a scoring run that extended their advantage to 44-33 at halftime.

After intermission, the Demon Deacons made a push to narrow the lead, coming within five points after Hildreth’s jumper made it 55-50. However, Virginia responded with a decisive 10-4 run, pulling ahead to 65-54, maintaining their edge throughout the contest.

Wake Forest managed to cut the deficit to 66-64 following a 10-1 run, but Virginia refused to yield. Cofie made two free throws, and McKneely followed with five quick points to extend the lead to 79-68 with just over two minutes remaining.

“We knew we needed this one,” McKneely said post-game. “This win is a confidence booster for us as we continue through the season.”

Virginia’s offense excelled early, shooting 63 percent (17-for-27) in the first half. McKneely drained three three-pointers, outpacing Wake Forest’s total in that half. The Cavaliers’ win not only marked a significant turnaround for the team, but it also underscored Wake Forest’s recent struggles following a loss to North Carolina State and a baffling defeat to Florida State earlier this month.

Looking ahead, Virginia will take on 13th-ranked Clemson on Saturday, while Wake Forest prepares to host Notre Dame in a crucial ACC matchup.