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The Louisville basketball team picked up another ACC win with a 72-59 victory over rival Wake Forest on Tuesday. That game was heated throughout resulting in testiness from the Demon Deacons.
A photographer on the Wake Forest sideline was reportedly nearly ejected for chastising officials during the contest. Louisville police are said to have been involved, though it appears the staffer was able to remain for the entirety of the matchup.
The Cardinals picked up a 10th straight win as Pat Kelsey continues his incredible turnaround in Kentucky. Over the last two seasons, the program combined to go just 12-52. This year, the team is 16-5 with NCAA Tournament aspirations on the mind.
Rewind the win ⏪
Recap: https://t.co/14QVpqcf8F#GoCards pic.twitter.com/P2P7wz2ID8
— Louisville Men’s Basketball (@LouisvilleMBB) January 29, 2025
Since the start of ACC play, Louisville is 11-2. The Cards are currently 9-1 in league action putting them one game back of Duke at the top of the standings.
They were able to win with relative ease on Tuesday after jumping out to a 24-point first half lead over Wake Forest. Despite the score, tensions were high.
The Demon Deacons were called for three technical fouls in the contest, two of which were committed by leading scorer Hunter Sallis. The senior guard saw his night end early due to the infractions. Still, Sallis tallied a team-high 13 points.
🏀Bellevue West alum Chucky Hepburn & Louisville got the best of Millard North alum Hunter Sallis & Wake Forest tonight, 72-59.
Chucky (14 pts) hit a buzzer-beating 3 to end the 1st half, while Hunter (13 pts) had a monster dunk in the 2nd but got ejected for taunting. pic.twitter.com/TGm4dxeNp0
— Adam Krueger (@AdamKruegerTV) January 29, 2025
Frustrated with the officiating, one Wake Forest photographer began shouting at referees. It nearly landed him an ejection according to Louisville beat writer Matt McGavic.
The refs just threatened to throw out one of Wake Forest’s photogs, and even got LMPD involved.
— Matt McGavic (@Matt_McGavic) January 29, 2025
Authorities are said to have approached the photographer with the threat of being escorted from the floor. Cooler heads apparently prevailed.
The reaction was one felt by the entire fanbase as it watched the team drop its second straight game in ACC play. The 13-point deficit was the Demon Deacons’ largest of the year against a conference foe.
Still, Wake Forest is 7-3 versus ACC competition. They missed out on a chance to move into a third-place tie with the Cardinals.