Virginia Tops Wake Forest in Close Contest
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · John Paul Jones Arena
Virginia Cavaliers 75, Wake Forest Demon Deacons 70, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Virginia Cavaliers?
Virginia Cavaliers beat Wake Forest Demon Deacons 75-70 at John Paul Jones Arena on March 3, 2026.
Who was favored in Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs Virginia Cavaliers?
Virginia Cavaliers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -1650 (about 94% implied). The favorite won.
The Virginia Cavaliers secured a narrow victory over the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, finishing the game with a score of 75-70 at the John Paul Jones Arena. This matchup was particularly intriguing as Virginia, boasting a strong home record of 26-4, faced off against a Wake Forest team that had struggled throughout the season with a record of 15-15.
In terms of recent form, Virginia had been performing well, entering the game with a 9-1 record over their last ten outings. However, they were coming off a loss to the Duke Blue Devils, which snapped a brief winning streak. The Cavaliers averaged 76.4 points scored while allowing 68.2 points during that stretch. Their home performance was solid, with a perfect 4-0 record in their last four games at home.
Conversely, Wake Forest had a mixed bag of results leading up to this contest, with a 4-6 record in their last ten games. They were on a one-game winning streak after defeating the Syracuse Orange, but prior to that, they faced several defeats, including a close loss to Boston College. The Demon Deacons averaged 75.7 points scored and allowed 79.4 points during their last ten games, showcasing their defensive struggles.
The teams had met previously in the 2025 season, where Virginia emerged victorious with an 83-75 win over Wake Forest. This history added an extra layer of competitiveness to the matchup.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing for either team, which meant both squads were likely at full strength for this important game.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, favored Virginia heavily with a spread of -14.5, indicating that they were expected to win by a significant margin. The total points line was set at 150.5, suggesting that a high-scoring game was anticipated. Virginia's moneyline was -1650, while Wake Forest's was +950, reflecting the disparity in their overall performance this season.
Conditions during the game were not detailed in the block, but the atmosphere in the John Paul Jones Arena was likely electric, given the stakes of the matchup and the home crowd's support for the Cavaliers.
As the game unfolded, key moments included several scoring plays by Mekhi Mason and Dallin Hall, who contributed crucial points in the second half. Mason made a series of driving layups that kept Wake Forest competitive, while Hall's free throws helped seal the game for Virginia.
The final score of 75-70 highlighted the competitive nature of the contest, with Virginia ultimately proving too strong at home despite a valiant effort from Wake Forest. This game not only showcased the Cavaliers' resilience but also the challenges faced by the Demon Deacons as they look to improve their standing in the league.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UVA -14.5 | 150.5 o -105 / u -115 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons +950 · Virginia Cavaliers -1650 |
Leaders
- PointsThijs De Ridder16Virginia Cavaliers
- AssistsDallin Hall4Virginia Cavaliers
- ReboundsJohann Grunloh9Virginia Cavaliers
- PointsMekhi Mason26Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- AssistsSebastian Akins3Wake Forest Demon Deacons
- ReboundsMyles Colvin7Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Recent form
Virginia Cavaliers
Last 10: 9-1Streak L176.4 scored · 68.2 allowed per game4-0 at home
- L51-77at Duke Blue DevilsFeb 28
- W90-61vs NC State WolfpackFeb 25
- W86-83vs Miami HurricanesFeb 21
- W94-68at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsFeb 19
- W70-66at Ohio State BuckeyesFeb 15
- W61-58at Florida State SeminolesFeb 11
- W72-59vs Syracuse OrangeFeb 7
- W67-47vs Pittsburgh PanthersFeb 4
- W73-66at Boston College EaglesJan 31
- W100-97at Notre Dame Fighting IrishJan 28
Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Last 10: 4-6Streak W175.7 scored · 79.4 allowed per game1-4 away
- W88-83vs Syracuse OrangeFeb 28
- L67-68at Boston College EaglesFeb 25
- L63-82at Virginia Tech HokiesFeb 21
- W85-77vs Clemson TigersFeb 19
- W68-63vs Stanford CardinalFeb 14
- W83-67at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsFeb 12
- L80-88vs Louisville CardinalsFeb 7
- L78-96vs NC State WolfpackJan 31
- L76-80at Pittsburgh PanthersJan 27
- L69-90at Duke Blue DevilsJan 24
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | Virginia Cavaliers |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 24-62 | 25-58 |
| Field goal % | 39 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 8-25 | 10-32 |
| Three-point % | 32 | 31 |
| Free throws | 14-15 | 15-23 |
| Free throw % | 93 | 65 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 43 |
| Offensive rebounds | 8 | 12 |
| Defensive rebounds | 25 | 31 |
| Assists | 11 | 17 |
| Steals | 5 | 5 |
| Blocks | 3 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 8 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 14 | 16 |
| Points in the paint | 26 | 28 |
| Fouls | 19 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 12 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 94 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half31-40Juke Harris makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half34-40Sebastian Akins makes 27-foot three point jumper (Mekhi Mason assists)
- 2nd Half34-43Thijs De Ridder makes 24-foot three point jumper (Chance Mallory assists)
- 2nd Half36-43Sebastian Akins makes driving layup (Omaha Biliew assists)
- 2nd Half36-45Chance Mallory makes driving layup (Devin Tillis assists)
- 2nd Half38-45Mekhi Mason makes driving layup
- 2nd Half39-45Mekhi Mason makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half39-47Ugonna Onyenso makes 9-foot floating jump shot (Malik Thomas assists)
- 2nd Half41-47Mekhi Mason makes driving layup
- 2nd Half41-50Devin Tillis makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ugonna Onyenso assists)
- 2nd Half41-51Malik Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half43-51Juke Harris makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half45-51Mekhi Mason makes driving layup
- 2nd Half45-53Jacari White makes driving layup (Thijs De Ridder assists)
- 2nd Half46-53Sebastian Akins makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half47-53Sebastian Akins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half47-56Jacari White makes 23-foot three point jumper (Dallin Hall assists)
- 2nd Half50-56Mekhi Mason makes 24-foot three point jumper (Cooper Schwieger assists)
- 2nd Half50-59Dallin Hall makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half53-59Mekhi Mason makes 25-foot three point jumper (Cooper Schwieger assists)
- 2nd Half53-62Malik Thomas makes 24-foot three pointer (Chance Mallory assists)
- 2nd Half54-62Mekhi Mason makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half55-62Mekhi Mason makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half55-64Johann Grunloh makes layup (Dallin Hall assists)
- 2nd Half57-64Juke Harris makes driving layup (Myles Colvin assists)
- 2nd Half58-64Juke Harris makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-65Johann Grunloh makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half58-66Johann Grunloh makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half60-66Myles Colvin makes driving layup (Sebastian Akins assists)
- 2nd Half60-68Johann Grunloh makes 15-foot floating jump shot (Thijs De Ridder assists)
- 2nd Half62-68Juke Harris makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-71Malik Thomas makes 25-foot three pointer (Dallin Hall assists)
- 2nd Half64-71Mekhi Mason makes driving layup
- 2nd Half66-71Mekhi Mason makes driving layup (Sebastian Akins assists)
- 2nd Half67-71Mekhi Mason makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half67-72Dallin Hall makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half67-73Dallin Hall makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-73Sebastian Akins makes 24-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half70-74Dallin Hall makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-75Dallin Hall makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Virginia Cavaliers, below favours Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
Venue
- John Paul Jones ArenaCharlottesville, VA
- Attendance12948
- OfficialsBill Covington Jr., Clarence Armstrong, Trey Styons
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- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
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