It’s a charity affair as UCLA falls to Wake Forest

Wake Forest got two players back from suspension and lost one to the flu. As long as the Demon Deacons were at the free-throw line, everything was all right.

Devin Thomas had 21 points and nine rebounds, and Wake Forest, despite not making a field goal over the final 5 minutes 40 seconds, beat UCLA, 80-77, on Wednesday night for third place in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

The Demon Deacons (4-2) had a huge advantage at the line, making 30 of 42 attempts compared to UCLA’s eight of 14.

Tony Parker had 18 points and 15 rebounds for the Bruins (3-3), while Isaac Hamilton added 18 points.

UCLA Coach Steve Alford was candid about the free-throw difference.

“I thought our guys competed. This was a team that was plus-12 on the backboard. ... We hold them to 40% shooting,” Alford said.

“I’ve been doing this 25 years. I’ve been on the short end of a lot of things. I’ve never had an experience where I’ve had a team get outshot 42-14 at the free-throw line. That was the difference in the game.”

Thomas made nine of 11 foul shots, and Cornelius Hudson, one of two players reinstated earlier in the day from suspension, was 11 of 16.

The Demon Deacons had to play without starting freshman point guard Bryant Crawford, who was sick.

UCLA trailed 70-65 after Wake Forest’s last field goal: a rebound tip by Thomas.

The Bruins couldn’t get the field goal they needed down the stretch. Hudson’s free throw with 3.7 seconds left made it 80-75 and Hamilton’s layup at the buzzer accounted for the final score.