Wake Forest University
Navy
O'Kelley Leads Wake Past Navy, 90-55
11/22/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 22, 1999
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - An Atlantic Coast Conference team hadn't played at Navy since February 1973. After what Wake Forest did to the Midshipmen here Monday night, it might be 26 more years before they invite another.
The Demon Deacons took the Midshipmen apart, outplaying them in all phases of the game, on their way to a 90-55 victory, the most lopsided home loss in Navy history.
Robert O'Kelley scored 18 points in the first half to lead Wake to a 46 -29 halftime lead. Wake put together a 9-0 run in the final two minutes of the half - getting five from O'Kelley - to break things open. He finished with 20 points.
"O'Kelley is as good a college guard I've seen in my career," said Navy coach Don DeVoe, who is in his 27th season as a head coach and spent seven prior years as an assistant.
"He just blitzed by everybody. We had no answer for him tonight," DeVoe said.
O'Kelley was not the only player to hurt Navy. Craig Dawson scored 17, Darius Songaila had 14, and Josh Shoemaker had nine points and nine rebounds.
"They are as extremely advanced team," DeVoe said. "I can't imagine there being many teams at this point of the season that can do as many things as they do."
Wake led throughout, opening an 8-0 lead before Navy got on the board with a Reggie Skipworth jumper with 16:27 left in the half. The Midshipmen (0-2) were able to stay reasonably close, cutting the gap to as few as four on several occasions - the last at 6:05 when Skipworth scored to make it 26-22, before the Deacons drew away.
"We don't take people apart in two or three minutes. It takes us awhile," Deacon coach Dave Odom said. "I know we had a couple of 9-0 runs, and that took Navy right out of it, but I think this game was a function of constant pressure.
"I was pleased with the respect our players showed Navy, especially Josh (Shoemaker). There's no game too big for him, no game too small. He showed Navy the same respect he'll give all eight our ACC opponents."
Wake's domination was evident from the start. Navy's starting five managed only 17 points, and had 12 turnovers.
The Deacons made 19-of-30 first half field goal attempts, while Navy was held to 10-of-28. The Midshipmen also had a dozen turnovers in the first half. Things didn't change much in the second half, as Wake finished 35-of-58, Navy 20-of-57.
Navy, which trailed by as many as 39 and got no closer than 15 points in the second half, was led by Jahiel Lewis, who had 12 of his 15 in the first half.
