CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Wake Forest (14-4, 4-3 ACC) out-scored Virginia (10-7, 4-3 ACC) 36-26 in the second half as the Demon Deacons held on to win 63-55 at John Paul Jones Arena Saturday afternoon (Jan. 15).

Wake Forest shot 45 percent (23-51 FG) from the field, while the Cavaliers shot 36 percent (21-58 FG). Virginia was active on both ends of the floor, tallying 10 steals and 17 assists, but a 13-0 run by the Demon Deacons in the second half proved to be the difference in the game.

Armaan Franklin scored a game-high 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from 3-point range. Kody Stattmann tied his career high of 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting. Reece Beekman, the ACC’s leader in steals per game, tallied five steals in Saturday’s loss.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Virginia led 29-27 at the break as Franklin tallied 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 2-for-3 from deep. Wake Forest led briefly – and by as many as five points (11-6) – before a 10-0 UVA run flipped the score and put the Cavaliers up five, 16-11. Virginia led by as many nine points in the first half. Kihei Clark, who led the Cavaliers this season in minutes per game entering Saturday’s contest, picked up two quick fouls and was forced to sit on the bench for the final 10 minutes of the first half. Beekman did not leave the floor for the Hoos and dished out six assists of his seven total assists in the first 20 minutes of play.

The Demon Deacons tied the game 36-36 with 13:35 to play before UVA quickly secured a seven-point lead (47-40), its largest of the second half three minutes later. Then, Wake Forest orchestrated the game’s largest scoring run, accumulating 13 straight points to go up 53-47 with 4:18 to play. The Cavaliers cut their deficit to as little as four points on multiple occasions thereafter, but could not mount a successful comeback.

 UP NEXT
Virginia travels to Pitt (7-10, 2-3 ACC) for an ACC contest on Wednesday, Jan. 19. Tipoff at Peterson Events Center is set for 9 p.m. on ACC Network.