Wake Forest Athletics
Men's Basketball Downs The Court Authority, 72-59
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
November 6, 1998
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Freshman Darius Songaila scored 20 points, 18 in the second half, to lead Wake Forest to a 72-59 win over The Court Authority in an exhibition basketball game Thursday night in Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Songaila, a 6'9 forward from Lithuania, also pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds. Robert O'Kelley and another freshman, Antwan Scott, each added 12 points for the Demon Deacons, who broke open a close game with an 11-1 run midway in the second half.
Wake spurted to an early 18-7 lead, but the visitors rallied behind former Virginia star Norman Nolan, who scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half. The Deacs led by only one, 32-31, at halftime. A free throw by another former Virginia standout, Harold Deane, gave Court Authority a 41-40 edge with 12:13 remaining in the contest. Wake Forest then scored 11 of the game's next 12 points, getting contributions from four different players in that spurt. Back-to-back baskets by Songaila gave the Deacons a 44-41 lead. Reserve point guard Jim Fitzpatrick nailed a three-pointer, O'Kelley scored on a drive, and Scott finished the burst on a layup, giving WFU a 51-41 advantage with 7:49 left.
The visitors pulled back to within five, 53-48, but a three-pointer by O'Kelley stopped that comeback and propelled the Deacons to the win.
Wake Forest played without sophomore forward Niki Arinze, out with a shoulder injury, and starting center Rafael Vidaurreta saw only two minutes of action after suffering a twisted ankle early in the game.
