Duke came into the Wake Forest game riding a ten game winning streak which helped them earn a number one ranking in the nation, but as Wake will tell you, teams don't stay there long.
The Deacons who were ranked in the same position a week ago held on to win by a 70-68 score in a game that was not decided until the final buzzer.
Duke woke up to play outstanding basketball over the last ten minutes of the game, but not before digging a 13 point hole. While Duke is likely disappointed with their effort over forty minutes, the comeback proved that you cannot count them out.
Kyle Singler, Gerald Henderson, Jon Scheyer and David McClure put the Dukies on their back in the second half. SIngler scored 22 points and grabbed 12 boards while Henderson chipped in with 20 points and 7 rebounds. A total of 32 of their 44 points were scored after intermission.
While Scheyer continued to struggle from the field, he drained some key free throws while David McClure played good defense and had a team high tying 12 rebounds.
The problem is that most of the other Devils were missing in action. Smith had 6 points, Paulus 5 and Plumlee 4 to round out the scoring. That's just six players scoring against one of the leagues deepest teams.
Despite the lack of early intensity, Duke looked poised to send the game to overtime, but a missed switch on the defensive end allowed an easy Johnson bucket.
The Wake Forest fans rushed the court and Duke was hanging their heads, but it is a game they'll learn from. Duke will now regroup and prepare for Virginia on Super Bowl Sunday.