Juke Harris poured in 31 points, and Wake Forest overcame a miserable start to the game in defeating visiting California 80-73 on Saturday to end the regular season at Winston-Salem, N.C.
Mekhi Mason and Omaha Biliew each had 10 points for the Demon Deacons (16-15, 7-11 Atlantic Coast Conference), who won their final four home games.
For Cal (21-10, 9-9), Dai Dai Ames matched Harris with 31 points, and Justin Pippen finished with 17 points before fouling out in the final minute. The Golden Bears were in desperate need of a positive result to gain much of a chance for an NCAA Tournament berth. As a team, they were 8-for-29 on 3-point attempts, losing for only the second time in their last six games.
Harris reached the 20-point mark for the 17th time this season. He was the catalyst for the comeback, as Wake Foerst dug out of a double-figure deficit.
Back-to-back 3s from Harris drew the Demon Deacons to within 42-39. Wake Forest had its first lead when Harris scored on a drive with 13:39 to play.
Wake Forest would then go on a 14-0 run to push the lead to 58-45.
But Cal finally regrouped after trailing by 13, cutting the gap to 62-61 with more than 4 1/2 minutes to play. Harris hit a jumper as Wake Forest’s lead went to 68-64. Cooper Schwieger’s jumper from the land made it 72-68 before the Bears struggled in the final minutes.
After falling into a 15-point hole, Wake Forest climbed to within 35-29 before a 37-29 halftime score. Wake Forest had six first-half field goals (two of those 3-pointers) and was saved by 15-for-19 shooting on free throws.
The Demon Deacons had only five points in the game’s first 10 minutes, with the Bears building an 18-5 lead. Harris had 10 of Wake Forest’s first 22 points.
Wake Forest’s Tre’Von Spillers fouled out with 2:45 to play on an illegal screen, but Cal didn’t score on the ensuing possession.
