Miami Canes Stumble Against Wake Forest in ACC Showdown

The Miami Hurricanes, fresh off a triumphant victory over #16 Clemson, faced a setback as they fell 86-82 to a red-hot Wake Forest team. The Canes, navigating the game without key player Wooga Poplar, struggled to maintain their winning streak.

Wake Forest’s Kevin Miller, delivered a career-high 27 points that bolstered his team’s performance. On the other side, Miami’s Norchad Omier impressively rounded up a 20-point double-double, with Matthew Cleveland contributing 17 points. However, it was not enough to seal a win for the Canes. Bensley Joseph’s persistent foul trouble, limiting him to only 27 minutes on the court, further hampered Miami’s efforts.

The Hurricanes’ bench, usually a source of strength, could only muster a total of three points throughout the game. This lack of depth was felt keenly in the tightly contested match.

One of the game’s highlights came from Hunter Sallis of Wake Forest, who netted 18 points. His clutch 3-pointer in the game’s closing moments was a crucial factor in sealing the victory for the Demon Deacons.

The loss altered the ACC standings, bringing Miami’s record to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference, while Wake Forest improved to an identical 11-3 overall, but a more robust 3-0 in conference play.

Looking ahead, the Miami Hurricanes are set to host Louisville, currently at 5-9 and 0-3 in the ACC, in their next game scheduled for 7 p.m. on Wednesday.

Reflecting on the high caliber of competition in the ACC, Miami’s coach Jim Larranaga shared his insights: “It’s high-level basketball. At this point in time, you don’t know who the best teams are in the ACC yet. You’re not going to know that until sometime either in February or March. Things change very, very quickly.”

The Canes, under Coach Larranaga’s guidance, will be looking to regroup and rebound from this defeat as they continue their journey through the demanding ACC schedule.

Check out LifeWalletSports.com to get connected with all of our NIL athletes and partnered brands.