Clemson Falls to Wake Forest 85-77 in ACC Matchup

Tigers struggle to slow down Demon Deacons' hot shooting in third straight loss

Feb. 23, 2026 at 6:07pm

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Clemson's men's basketball team fell to Wake Forest 85-77 on Wednesday night, despite a second-half comeback attempt. The Tigers trailed by as many as 20 points in the first half before cutting the deficit to 5 early in the second half, but were unable to complete the rally as Wake Forest responded with timely shot-making every time Clemson threatened.

Why it matters

The loss drops Clemson to 10-4 in ACC play, putting them in fifth place in the conference standings. After being tied for first place a week ago, the Tigers now face a tighter margin for error as they look to secure an NCAA Tournament berth. The game highlighted Clemson's struggles to consistently generate offense late in close games.

The details

Wake Forest shot 66% from the field and 50% from 3-point range in the first half to build a 20-point lead. Clemson's defense tightened in the second half, allowing the Tigers to go on a 16-1 run to pull within 5 points early in the period. However, Wake Forest answered every Clemson surge with timely shot-making, preventing the Tigers from ever taking the lead. Five different Demon Deacons scored in double figures, led by Juke Harris' 20 points. Clemson got strong performances from Jake Wahlin (17 points) and Ace Buckner (13 points), but lacked consistent scoring from its veteran perimeter options.

  • Clemson trailed 45-25 with 2:27 left in the first half.
  • Clemson went on a 16-1 run to pull within 5 points at 46-41 early in the second half.
  • Clemson cut the deficit to 7 points with 11:17 remaining, but Wake Forest responded with a 3-pointer.

The players

Juke Harris

A Wake Forest player who led the Demon Deacons with 20 points and 7 rebounds.

Jake Wahlin

A Clemson player who scored 17 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added 5 rebounds.

Ace Buckner

A Clemson player who scored 13 points, marking the fifth straight game he has either led or been tied for the lead among Clemson's guards in scoring.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

Clemson's offense has become one-dimensional in key moments, lacking a clear go-to option when defenses tighten. The Tigers' inability to complete late-game comebacks has tightened the margin for error in their quest to secure an NCAA Tournament berth, with the team now sitting in fifth place in the ACC standings.