Juke Harris scores 31 as Wake Forest beats Cal

The Demon Deacons overcome a slow start to defeat the Golden Bears in the regular season finale.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Juke Harris poured in 31 points to lead Wake Forest to an 80-73 victory over visiting California on Saturday. The Demon Deacons overcame a double-digit deficit in the first half, with Harris sparking a 14-0 run in the second half to give Wake Forest a comfortable lead. Dai Dai Ames also scored 31 points for Cal, but the Golden Bears were unable to hold on after trailing by as many as 13 points late in the game.

Why it matters

This win helps Wake Forest end the regular season on a positive note, while Cal's loss likely hurts their chances of earning an NCAA Tournament berth after a strong regular season campaign.

The details

Wake Forest struggled early, falling behind by 15 points in the first half. But Harris led the comeback, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to draw the Demon Deacons within 3 points. Wake Forest then went on a 14-0 run to take control of the game in the second half. Cal made a late push to cut the deficit to 1 point, but Wake Forest held on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Wake Forest trailed by 15 points early in the game.

The players

Juke Harris

A standout player for Wake Forest who scored 31 points to lead his team to victory.

Dai Dai Ames

The leading scorer for Cal with 31 points in the losing effort.

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The takeaway

This game showcased the resilience of the Wake Forest team, as they were able to overcome a slow start and a double-digit deficit to secure an important win to end the regular season. The performance of Juke Harris was particularly impressive, as he led the Demon Deacons' comeback effort.