Wake Forest Deacons Fall Short in Upset Bid Against Louisville

Missed shots and poor offense in the final minutes cost the Deacons a chance to pull off the surprise win.

Feb. 7, 2026 at 4:55pm

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The Wake Forest Deacons made a strong comeback attempt against the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday, but were unable to capitalize in the final minutes, ultimately falling short in their upset bid.

Why it matters

Wake Forest had an opportunity to pull off a major upset against a highly ranked Louisville team, which would have been a significant boost to their season. However, their inability to execute on offense down the stretch cost them a chance at a marquee win.

The details

After trailing for much of the game, Wake Forest fought back to make it a close contest in the final minutes. However, the Deacons struggled to generate good shots and missed several key opportunities that could have tied or won the game.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Wake Forest Deacons

The men's basketball team from Wake Forest University, a member of the ACC conference.

Louisville Cardinals

The men's basketball team from the University of Louisville, a highly ranked program in the ACC.

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What’s next

Wake Forest will look to regroup and try to bounce back in their next game against a conference opponent.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Deacons' potential to compete with top teams, but also exposed their need to improve their execution and decision-making in crucial late-game situations.