Another thrilling college basketball matchup, headlined by Maxime Raynaud and Hunter Sallis, came down to the wire. These two are the engines that drive their teams, and this game was no exception. In the end, Wake Forest pulled out a hard-fought 79-73 victory. Let’s break it down.

Maxime Raynaud

Raynaud, a skilled 7-footer who can stretch the floor with his three-point shooting, played a unique role for Stanford last night. He was tasked with bringing the ball up and initiating the offense, showcasing his versatility.

His passing was impressive—one standout moment was a beautifully timed lead pass to a cutting teammate while the defender trailed behind. Time and time again, Raynaud made smart reads, particularly when facing double teams in the post. He consistently found open teammates, demonstrating great vision and feel for the game.

However, Raynaud had his share of struggles. He made some questionable decisions, forcing passes that were easily intercepted by Wake Forest’s defense. The pressure got to him at times, resulting in five turnovers. Offensively, it wasn’t his best night either. Wake Forest’s defensive scheme disrupted his rhythm, and he finished with 16 points on 4-11 shooting, including just 1-7 from three. On the bright side, he secured a double-double with 10 rebounds—no surprise given his rebounding ability. He also dished out six assists, a number that could’ve been even higher if his teammates had capitalized on his passes. Raynaud also showed flashes of putting the ball on the floor, but that’s an area that still needs refinement.

Defensively, it was a mixed bag. He struggled at times, getting scored on both in the post and on the perimeter by quicker guards. Still, his active hands made an impact, as he finished with three steals.

Overall, this wasn’t Raynaud’s best performance, but that was largely due to Wake Forest’s defensive focus on him. At the NBA level, he won’t be asked to create offense as much, but he’ll need to knock down threes consistently and improve his defense to make an impact.

Hunter Sallis

Sallis had a relatively quiet first half, but when Wake Forest needed him most in the second, he stepped up in a big way. Down the stretch, he was the go-to guy, delivering in critical moments.

Sallis thrives in the mid-range, and I love it. With the NBA’s emphasis on the three-ball, the mid-range is often wide open, and Sallis can take full advantage. He got into the paint all night, knocking down tough shots and setting up teammates for open looks. Not every drive was perfect—he had a couple of turnovers when he got caught in traffic—but overall, he was impressive.

On the glass, Sallis showed his rebounding ability, finishing with seven boards. Defensively, his intensity stood out. One notable play saw him sprint to contest Raynaud at the top of the key, then recover to challenge his own man’s corner shot, forcing a miss.

In the clutch, Sallis delivered. He calmly sank four key free throws late in the game, finishing 7-9 from the line. His performance sealed the win for Wake Forest.

Final stat line: 19 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 1 block, and 3 turnovers—a complete performance.