NEWTON, Mass. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a stunning individual performance and a frantic final sequence, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons fell just short against the Boston College Eagles, 68-67, in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Silvio O. Conte Forum.

The contest turned on a dramatic final possession, as Boston College’s Aidan Shaw tipped in a missed layup by Fred Payne with one second remaining to complete a second-half comeback and snatch victory from the jaws of a Wake Forest team that had been in control for much of the night. The decisive play was set up by a critical turnover from Wake Forest’s Isaac Carr, who had his pass stolen by Payne with 18 seconds left and the game tied at 66.

That climactic moment capped a remarkable rally by the Eagles, who trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and were down 29-22 at halftime. Boston College’s offense, stagnant and inefficient before the break, erupted for 46 second-half points, shooting 48.6% from the field after intermission compared to Wake Forest’s 34.1%.

The story for three-quarters of the game, however, was the spectacular scoring display by Wake Forest sophomore Juke Harris. The 6-foot-7 guard from Salisbury, North Carolina, poured in a career-high 38 points, single-handedly keeping the Demon Deacons afloat. Harris was relentless, hitting 10 of 30 shots from the field, including 6 of 17 from three-point range, and converting 12 of 14 free throws. He scored 23 of his points in the first half, almost matching Boston College’s entire team output, and his deep three-pointer with 25 seconds left had tied the game at 66.

Harris’s heroics were nearly enough to overcome a tough shooting night for the rest of his team. Beyond Harris, Wake Forest shot just 12 of 32 from the field. The Demon Deacons also dominated several hustle categories, grabbing 12 offensive rebounds to Boston College’s nine, recording eight steals to the Eagles’ three, and dishing out eight assists against only three for the home team. They also committed just six turnovers. Yet, their inability to find consistent secondary scoring and a 22-of-62 overall shooting performance ultimately proved costly.

Boston College’s comeback was fueled by the backcourt duo of Fred Payne and the interior presence of Boden Kapke. Payne, a 6-foot-1 guard from Grambling, Louisiana, scored 23 of his team-high 25 points in the second half, spearheading the Eagles’ surge. Kapke, a 6-foot-11 forward from Victoria, Minnesota, added 13 points and nine rebounds, providing crucial baskets inside. Aidan Shaw contributed 11 points and the game-winning putback.

The Eagles chipped away at the deficit throughout the second half, finally taking their first lead since 2-0 on a Payne layup that made it 40-38 with 13:16 remaining. From there, the game became a tense back-and-forth affair featuring six lead changes and five ties in the final 13 minutes, setting the stage for the chaotic finish.

With the loss, Wake Forest drops to 14-14 overall and remains in the middle of the ACC pack. The Demon Deacons had won two of their last three coming in, including an upset of Clemson, but could not sustain momentum despite Harris’s career night. Boston College improves to 10-18, securing a rare conference victory in a season marked by struggles.

The game defied pregame expectations, as Wake Forest entered as a four-point favorite and was given a 72.6% probability to win by statistical models. The combined point total of 135 also fell well below the over/under line of 145.5, reflecting the defensive struggle in the first half.

A crowd of 2,811 witnessed the thriller, which saw Wake Forest’s offensive rating at 104.6 points per 100 possessions, slightly below Boston College’s 107.6. The Eagles’ efficiency in the second half, particularly from Payne, was the difference in overcoming a Demon Deacon effort that was otherwise superior in many facets of the game except the final score.

Wake Forest will look to rebound at home against Syracuse on Saturday. Boston College travels to face Miami (Fla.) on the same day.