WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — North Carolina played like a team uninterested and unfocused for too long before playing a furious and frenetic pace that prompted a comeback that came up short during its 92-85 loss to Wake Forest on Tuesday in Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
Early on there was a feeling the Heels would suffer their first blowout loss of the season. There was Caleb Love, throwing a pass to no man’s land that just bounced out of bounds for a turnover. There was Leaky Black nonchalantly approaching the basket after a steal, being fouled and missing both free throws. There was Jalen Washington dribbling a ball off his foot that led to a live ball turnover.
The Tar Heels (15-9, 7-6 ACC) watched the Demon Deacons (16-9, 8-6) reel off a 14-0 run midway through the first half for a 24-9 lead and the outcome seemed solidified. The Heels trailed by as many as 26 points, which easily surpassed its 18-point deficit at Virginia Tech for the largest margin this season.
