No. 7 Wake knocks off No. 4 Duke

Posted 6:49AM on Thursday 3rd February 2005 ( 20 years ago )

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The fans didn't storm the court and Wake Forest's players didn't go wild in celebration. Suddenly, beating Duke has become routine. Chris Paul scored 23 points and Wake Forest withstood a flurry of late 3-pointers to hang on for a 92-89 victory over Duke on Wednesday night. The seventh-ranked Demon Deacons (18-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have now beaten No. 4 Duke (16-2, 6-2) three straight times at home. ``It's not a crazy, unbelievable upset anymore when we beat a North Carolina or a Duke,'' Paul said. ``That's because we know we can beat anyone as long as we just treat them like anyone else. Don't get too up, don't get on a high horse, just treat them like any other team and we can play with them.'' For most of the game, the Demon Deacons appeared headed toward an easy victory as they built a 14-point lead. But J.J. Redick made a trio of 3-pointers in the final 2:14 and Sean Dockery also hit one as Duke cut it to 90-89 with 3 seconds to play. ``His desire to win could not have been exemplified in any higher fashion, he was magnificent,'' Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said, referring to Redick. ``His demeanor was the key to bringing us back.'' The Blue Devils had to foul and sent Taron Downey to the line with 2 seconds left. For Downey, it was flashbacks to a Jan. 18 game at Florida State when he missed a free throw that would have won the game in regulation. Instead, it went to overtime and the Deacons lost. ``I thought about Florida State, I'm not going to lie,'' Downey said. ``I just stood up there and said, `Please don't let them be short, let them go in.''' Both did to make it 92-89. Duke had one last chance, but Redick's off-balance 3 fell short at the buzzer denying Duke a much-needed quality win. ``Actually, I thought it was going to bank in for sure,'' Redick said. ``I just left it a little short.'' Eric Williams, the ACC player of the week, finished with 19 points and 13 rebounds for Wake Forest. Justin Gray had 16 points and Vytas Danelius had 12. Redick finished with 33 points and made five 3s in 13 attempts. Shelden Williams had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Lee Melchionni scored 13. Duke came into the game with a better record and a higher ranking. But aside from wins over Oklahoma and at North Carolina State, the Blue Devils have yet to fully prove themselves this season. A win at Wake Forest would have been a step in the right direction. Instead, the Demon Deacons used tough defense and strong outside shooting to move to 11-0 at home. Wake Forest forced 13 turnovers eight were steals had five blocks and outrebounded Duke 44-37. The Blue Devils have been short on depth most of the season because of injuries and are limiting Shavlik Randolph's playing time as he slowly returns from a bout with mononucleosis. But their bench got even shorter in this one when Daniel Ewing fouled out with 7:22 to play after scoring just five points in 16 minutes. ``We need Daniel to play more and better,'' Krzyzewski said. ``I am really surprised that we had an opportunity to win without Daniel.'' Once Ewing was out, Wake Forest was able to open a 14-point lead, but Redick pulled the Blue Devils back into it with his late baskets. Wake Forest opened up the game early in the second half with an explosive run led by Paul. With the Demon Deacons leading just 50-49, Eric Williams started the spurt with a basket before Paul scored on three quick possessions. After two jumpers, Paul stole the ball from Redick under the basket, then scrambled up the court to fire an open 3-pointer for a 59-49 lead. The game seesawed through most of the first half until Wake Forest's Trent Strickland was called for a technical foul for hanging on the rim on a missed dunk with 6:04 to play. Redick hit the ensuing free throws to tie it at 30, but the call seemed to charge up the Deacons. Downey fired up a 3 for Wake Forest, then Paul jumped onto Ewing in a scrum for a loose ball. Things got testy on the floor, with players from both teams clawing after the ball until the officials separated them. It led to a lengthy replay review of the battle, with Ewing and Paul each getting called with offsetting technical fouls. ``It was a scrum, and I don't think it should have been a technical,'' Ewing said. ``Players came in from all over, so for me and Paul to get a technical, I don't think we did anything to deserve that.'' The call sent the Demon Deacons on a tear and it sent Ewing to the bench for Duke with his third foul. In his absence, Wake Forest rolled out to a nine-point lead following four straight free throws from Eric Williams before DeMarcus Nelson hit a 3 for Duke to cut the Deacons' halftime lead to 45-39. ``They reacted better than us after the scuffle,'' Redick said. ``And Daniel picked up the foul. That's it.''

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