Wake Forest Shoots 73.9 Percent in Second Half of Its Win Over Cal

Cal could not keep up with Wake Forest in the second half and it resulted in a 76-66 loss to the Deacons in a Saturday afternoon game in front of a crowd of 4,562 at Cal’s Haas Pavilion.

Cal (12-12, 5-8 ACC.) shot 34.8 % from the floor while allowing Wake Forest to shoot 57.7% from the field, including 73.9% in the second half, when the Deacons took control of the game after being ahead by two points at halftime.

"I feel like in the first half we were there; we were doing everything right," said Cal center Mady Sissoko, who had nine points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. "But I feel like in the second half we couldn't really guard, and they were shooting something like 75% from the field. I feel like if we could have had a couple more stops we could be in the game just like we were in the first half."

The other important statistic involved turnovers. The Bears forced the Demon Deaons (18-6, 10-3 ACC) into seven turnovers, while Cal committed 13.

"Thirteen turnovers is not going to be able to cut it against a top team like Wake Forest is," Cal head coach Mark Madsen said.

Those are not encouraging Cal numbers, and the Bears' next game is against second-ranked Duke on Wednesday on the Blue Devils' home floor. Duke lost to Clemson 77-71 on Saturday.

Jeremiah Wilkinson and Andrej Stojakovic were in the starting lineup together for the first time this season for Cal. While Wilkinson was productive with 21 points, Stojakovic, who entered the game averaging 18.3 points, apparently has not regained his offensive rhythm after missing four consecutive games with an illness and a hip injury. Opposing defenses are focusing on him as well, double teaming him often.

He was 2-for-12 for six points in his first game back in the win over North Carolina State on Wednesday, and on Saturday against Wake Forest he finished with 10 points on 4-for-13 shooting. However, seven of his points on Saturday came in the closing moments after the outcome was decided.

"It gives you two very dynamic players in the starting lineup," Madsen said of having Wilkinson and Stojakovic both in the starting lineup. "I think Andrej is still regaining his rhythm. It's hard for any player to be out that long and come right back into perfect rhythm."

Wilkinson continues to put up impressive numbers. His shooting percentage has not been great, and he was 4-for-10 on Saturday, but he is averaging 19.8 points over the past six games.

Wake Forest showed you can win without a perimeter offense. The Deacons entered the game last in the ACC in three-point percentage, so they atempted only eight shots from long range, a season low. Wake Forest made only three of those three-pointers, but the Deacons were productive on the inside, outscoring Cal by a whopping 48-16 margin in the paint.

Cal attempted more three-points shots (28) than two-point shots (25), and the Bears made just eight of their shots from long range and 44% of their two-point attempts.

Cal had won four of its previous six games, and early in the second half of Saturday's game it appeared the Bears might make it five wins in seven games with a significant win. The score was tied 42-42 with 14:51 left in the game, but Wake Forest reeled off eight straight points to take control. By the time Reid completed a three-point play with 7:06 left left the Demon Deacons' lead had bee expanded to 15 points. Wake Forest increased its lead to 16 points with 4:55 to go, and Cal never challenged down he stretch.

Wake Forest was led by Cameron Hildreth (23 points), Efton Reid III (19 points) and Hunter Sallis (20 points.

Cal played a decent first half. The Bears led by three points late in the first half and trailed by just two point at halftime.

Things got away from the Bears in the second half.

NOTES: Cal sixth man Joshua Ola-Joseph sat out Saturday's game because a back problem flaired up before the game.

During a first-half timeout in Saturday’s game, Cal honored Al Grigsby, a former Cal men's basketball standout who helped the Golden Bears to their two most recent NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearances and is the 2025 recipient of the Pete Newell Career Achievement Award.

In Friday’s Bracketology report by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, Wake Forest is listed as one of the last four at-large teams to get into the NCAA tournament, earning a No. 11 seed and forced to play a preliminary-round game.

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