LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – You could say that on Saturday afternoon, it just took the Louisville basketball team too long to Wake up.

Sorry. In a season as ugly as this one, you're going to get some ugly puns.

Coming off one of its more promising efforts of the season on Tuesday night against Syracuse, the Louisville basketball team did not build on that momentum to start Saturday's game against Wake Forest.

But somewhere deep in the recesses of a 2-win season, they found some fire to finish the game. After showing few signs of life for 30 minutes, Louisville stormed back from a 22-point deficit in the final 10, pulling within 3 points with 2:30 to play, before Wake Forest held on for an 80-72 victory.

"I thought it was a game of two halves," Louisville coach Kenny Payne said. "I thought the first half we were on our heels. The second half, we were more aggressive. Fifteen offensive rebounds for us for 16 points. We shoot 52 percent in the second half and e outscored them 46-37. Moral victories. I don't want them. I want us to play like that the whole game. And I just told the guys, 'Don't find new ways to lose for me. Fight. I don't care that they may have more talent than us. Fight. Every second that you're on that floor. I don't want to play games, guys.'"

Kenny Payne speaks after Louisville lost to Wake Forest

The Deacons took command at the start, jumping to an 8-0 lead with the help of a couple of Louisville turnovers, and led by double digits for most of the half, and by as many as 22 in in the second half.

But Louisville, as it will mysteriously do, flipped a switch. It started to make shots. And hustle plays. It began to defend better and rebound. It got sparks from Mike James and J.J. Traynor. It clawed back.

And a spirited KFC Yum Center crowd of 11, 986 was lit. (Parenthetically, who draws 12,000 fans for a 2-win team in January. That crowd is a testament to the Louisville basketball fan. Let it be said.)

Unfortunately, Louisville couldn’t keep things lit. Up just 70-67, Wake Forest responded with a 3-pointer, a stop, a pair of free-throws, and played the better defense late.

Louisville got a career-high 24 points, to go with 8 rebounds, from Mike James, his second straight game notching a career high. El Ellis added 20 points and 8 assists.

"I see him getting more and more comfortable," Payne said of James. "There still plays out there where I want more. I need him more in tune. Mike James is a freshman and I love what he's doing. I love what he is. I love his character. I love his fight. I love the way he attacks the basket. I need him to be better. I need him and I see him coming. And I'm asking him and Kamari (Lands) and all of them, 'Don't be freshmen.  . . . I want you to make the adjustment and become a better player."

Payne also said he liked what he saw from Traynor, at times. The sophomore finished with 7 points and 7 rebounds.

"With JJ, I love what I saw in spurts but I hate what I saw in other sports, to be honest with you," Payne said. "JJ is a good basketball player. I need him to play with a fire. If that means you need to go to acting school and act when you're on the court a certain way then you go to acting school and act a certain way. I need there to be a difference between on the court and off the court. I don't want it to be the same. I need him to fight. I need him to play with a fire. I need him to represent his family. I need him to represent this university with the spirit of a warrior."

The Cardinals were outscored 21-12 off turnovers, but outscored Wake Forest 16-3 on second-half points. The Deacons made 13 of 32 three-pointers. Louisville shot 44 percent from the game and went 9-for-28 from beyond the arc.

Louisville falls to 2-14 with the loss. The Cardinals visit Clemson on Wednesday night at 9 p.m.

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