Wake Forest University
SMU
Demon Deacons Dominate SMU, 73-49
12/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec 15, 2002
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By DAVID DROSCHAK
AP Sports Writer
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) - Vytas Danelius had 12 points and 11 rebounds, and reserve Jamaal Levy added 12 points as Wake Forest held SMU to 33 percent shooting in a 73-49 victory Sunday night.
Wake Forest improved to 4-0 for the second time in as many seasons under coach Skip Prosser, outrebounding the Mustangs 46-25.
Meanwhile, SMU star Quinton Ross, averaging 27 points, was 3-for-15 from the field and finished with 15 - the first time he's been held under 20 this season.
SMU (2-3) also didn't improve its poor shooting from 3-point range. The Mustangs came in at 21 percent from beyond the arc and finished 3-for-17 from long range.
Wake Forest's All-American candidate Josh Howard didn't fare much better than Ross. Howard was coming off a career-high 31 points at Wisconsin, but managed just eight on 2-for-10 shooting.
Levy scored a total of five points in limited action in Wake Forest's first three games, but the lanky 6-foot-9 forward made the most of his 24 minutes on this night, making five of seven shots with three rebounds and three assists.
Wake Forest led 43-21 at the break, but missed eight of nine shots to start the second half as SMU pulled within 15.
Less than seven minutes later the Demon Deacons were in control again as Levy and Howard sank consecutive 3-pointers for a 26-point cushion.
The Mustangs and Ross could get nothing going offensively in the opening 20 minutes as they fell into a deep hole.
SMU missed 14 of its first 16 shots and Ross missed his first six before scoring his only basket of the half with 2:06 left. By that time, Wake Forest had built a 21-point lead.
Wake Forest did most of its damage without Howard's help. He scored just three first-half points, but the senior was one of nine Demon Deacons to score in the period.
The Demon Deacons had some problems in the first seven minutes solving the SMU zone, but went on a 25-6 run to take their big lead.
Wake Forest's reserves played key roles in the spurt. Early in the run, Trent Strickland scored five points on a baseline shot, a driving layup and a foul shot, while Levy added seven points in 12 minutes in his best showing so far this season.
Each team was coming off an 11-day break for exams.
