STANFORD – Stanford suffered a major setback in its quest for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2014, losing to fellow bubble team Wake Forest 79-73 Wednesday night at Maples Pavilion.
Cardinal senior center Maxime Raynaud recorded his nation-leading 19th double-double, posting 16 points and 10 rebounds.
He also had six assists and three steals as he increased his playmaking role in the absence of point guard and second-leading scorer Jayden Blakes, who missed his second straight game with a head injury.
But Oziyah Sellers, who was fourth in the ACC in field goal percentage, shot just 2 of 11 as Stanford lost at Maples for only the second time this season, and the first time in six conference games.
Stanford forward Chisom Okpara’s transition layup tied the game at 69 with 1:41 remaining, but Cameron Hildreth was fouled on Wake Forest’s next possession and made both ends of a 1-and-1 with 1:20 to play to put the Demon Deacons ahead to stay. Wake Forest (17-6, 9-3) made all eight of its free throws in the final 80 seconds to prevent any hopes of a comeback for the Cardinal (15-8, 7-5).
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It was Stanford’s second loss in three weeks to the Demon Deacons, who won 80-67 in Winston-Salem on Jan. 15.
Most projections have Wake Forest right on the cut line for an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament, with Stanford on the outside looking in. The Cardinal remained in sixth place in the conference, but will need a series of wins to get back in the discussion for a March Madness appearance.
The Cardinal has three games remaining against teams above it in the standings – at Duke and Louisville and at home against SMU. Stanford next hosts N.C. State (9-13, 2-9) on Saturday.