Wake got off to a quick start, taking a 17-8 lead early in the game and leading by two at the break before falling 72-71 at home to the Virginia Cavaliers on a Darius Thompson buzzer beating three - his first points of the night.
The first half saw Wake play some of their best basketball of the season, especially over the first ten minutes. Senior Devin Thomas was seeing a lot of the ball from the opening tip, recording a bucket off a goaltending call for the first basket of the game.