Photos by: Aaron J. Thornton
The inaugural Wolverine–Deacon Basketball Challenge more than lived up to its billing. In a game that came down to the wire, the No. 6 ranked Michigan Wolverines outlasted the Wake Forest Demon Deacons 85–84 in an overtime thriller at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit, home of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons.
Coming off a dominant season opening win over Oakland University, Michigan faced a far tougher test against a traditional ACC powerhouse in Wake Forest, and the fans got a show worthy of the stage.
Michigan jumped out to an early 4–0 lead thanks to back to back baskets from Illinois transfer Morez Johnson Jr. The Demon Deacons quickly responded, taking and holding a slim advantage for several minutes of the first half. But the Wolverines offense got a spark and went on a 14–4 run, eventually stretching the lead to 13 points, 47–34, going into the break. Michigan shot 54% from the field in the opening 20 minutes while holding Wake Forest to just 32% in establishing the lead.
All five Wolverine starters found the scoreboard in the first half, while three reserves chipped in with points off the bench. The performance on both ends of the court from 7’3” UCLA transfer Aday Mara was easily the most impressive, coming within three rebounds of a first half double-double. He added 3 assists and 3 blocks before intermission, showcasing the all-around impact that made him such a coveted addition.
Coming out of the locker room, Wake Forest refused to fold. The Deacons opened the second half with a 14–6 surge to close the gap, eventually tying the game 64–64 with under nine minutes to play. They took their first lead since early in the first half and pushed it to seven points with less than five minutes remaining, causing murmurs of concern among the maize and blue faithful in the stands.
But Michigan had one more push in them. The Wolverines responded with an 8–0 run, reclaiming the lead in the final minute. Yet the drama was far from over. Wake Forest’s Myles Colvin drained a clutch three pointer to make it 80–78 with 47 seconds remaining. Michigan turned once again to Mara, who missed a hook shot but watched as his team secured the offensive rebound to stay alive. With time winding down, Elliot Cadeau cut to the basket, took a feed, and scored the tying layup to force overtime at 80–80.
Wake Forest had one last possession in regulation, but Michigan’s Cadeau came up with a crucial steal to send the contest to extra time.
In overtime, Michigan won the tip and quickly took the lead on a Mara dunk. Both teams traded baskets in a tense, defensive five minute stretch that saw the score tied at 84 for almost the entire remaining two minutes of the extra period. However with 14 seconds left, Cadeau drew a foul and hit one of two free throws to put Michigan ahead 85–84.
After timeouts from both teams, Wake Forest’s Nate Calmese attacked the lane in the final seconds, lofting a floater over the towering Mara. The shot had a chance but was just off the mark, undoubtedly altered by Mara’s presence, sealing a hard fought Michigan victory.
Both teams had four players scoring in double figures. Wake Forest was led by Juke Harris with 19 points, while Michigan’s Aday Mara earned Most Outstanding Player honors with a team high 18 points, 13 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 blocks.
Despite the win, Michigan’s second game of the season exposed areas needing improvement. After shooting over 50% from three-point range against Oakland, the Wolverines hit just 16% (4-for-25) from beyond the arc against Wake Forest and committed 17 turnovers, a concerning callback to last season’s struggles with ball security.
Still, for a November matchup between two power conference programs, the debut of the Wolverine–Deacon Challenge delivered everything fans could ask for: high-level basketball, big performances, and a thrilling finish under the Detroit lights.
Michigan (2-0) will only have a couple days to practice before heading down South for their next game on Friday at TCU (2-1). Wake Forest (2-1) will return home and host UMass-Lowell (1-2) on Sunday.
Final Score: Michigan 85 – Wake Forest 84 (OT)
