WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a series of clutch responses, Wake Forest outlasted Syracuse 88-83 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball thriller on Saturday at a raucous Joel Memorial Coliseum.

The contest, played before an announced crowd of 9,208, saw both teams trade blows with remarkable shooting accuracy, but the Demon Deacons made the critical plays in the final minutes to secure the victory and improve their season record to 15-14. Syracuse fell to an even 14-14.

The most important part of the game unfolded over the final three minutes, a stretch where Wake Forest consistently answered every Syracuse push to protect a narrow lead. After Syracuse guard Naithan George hit a floating jumper to cut the Wake Forest lead to 82-80 with just under three minutes remaining, the Demon Deacons’ defense and composure were tested.

On the ensuing possession, Wake Forest’s Tre’Von Spillers intercepted a pass from Syracuse’s Donnie Freeman, leading to a fast break. The ball found Juke Harris, who fed Spillers for a layup to push the lead back to four. After a Syracuse miss, Wake Forest worked the shot clock before Sebastian Akins drove for a layup, making it 86-80 with 2:31 left.

Syracuse, refusing to wilt, got a driving layup from Freeman to cut it to four again. Following a Wake Forest turnover, Freeman was fouled on a jump shot and made the ensuing free throw, bringing the Orange within 86-83 with 2:47 on the clock. The sequence set up a tense finish, but Wake Forest’s ability to secure key rebounds and convert free throws proved decisive. After a missed three-pointer by Syracuse’s JJ Starling, Wake Forest’s Cooper Schwieger grabbed an offensive board and scored a putback layup with 31 seconds left, extending the lead to 88-83 and effectively sealing the game.

The back-and-forth finish was a fitting conclusion to a game where neither team led by more than nine points. The first half set the tone for an offensive showcase, with Syracuse taking a 46-42 lead into halftime behind 28 points from Donnie Freeman. The sophomore forward from Washington, D.C., was nearly unstoppable early, finishing with a game-high 28 points.

Wake Forest countered with a balanced and efficient attack, led by a breakout performance from guard Myles Colvin. The Indianapolis native, who had averaged just 12.7 points over his previous three games, erupted for 32 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including a scorching 6-of-9 from three-point range. He added three assists and a block, providing the consistent scoring punch the Demon Deacons needed.

Syracuse’s offense was fueled by its backcourt duo. Alongside Freeman, point guard Naithan George of Toronto orchestrated the attack with a double-double of 13 points and 10 assists. Nate Kingz added 20 points for the Orange, who shot 51.9% from the field and an impressive 50% from beyond the arc.

Wake Forest, however, was even more efficient. The Demon Deacons shot 57.9% from the floor and 56.3% from three-point range. They also won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding Syracuse 31-24 and grabbing eight offensive boards to Syracuse’s four. Spillers was a force inside for Wake Forest, contributing 16 points, four assists and three blocks. Harris filled the stat sheet with 13 points and five assists, while Akins provided a vital spark off the bench with 10 points and three assists.

The game was a statistical anomaly in its lack of ball movement, with the teams combining for only 11 assists, yet it featured high-level individual shot-making. Both teams valued possessions, committing only 17 total turnovers. In the end, Wake Forest’s slight advantages in rebounding and interior defense, evidenced by their five blocked shots, provided the marginal difference.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Wake Forest entered the game with a 69.9% probability to win, a projection they validated with their performance down the stretch. The victory gives Wake Forest momentum as they prepare to visit Virginia on Tuesday. Syracuse will look to rebound on the road at Louisville the same night.