Wake Forest University
SMU
Wake Holds Off SMU Surge, 78-66
12/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
By JAIME ARON
AP Sports Writer
DALLAS (AP) - Justin Gray made six 3-pointers in the first half, then didn't score again until hitting a driving hook with 2:05 left that helped No. 14 Wake Forest pull past SMU 78-66 Monday night.
In their final tuneup before opening ACC play at No. 4 North Carolina on Saturday, the Demon Deacons (6-0) seemed headed to a runaway win when they stretched their lead to 17 points early in the second half. Then they went cold and the Mustangs (3-2) got within 68-64.
Gray, who scored a season-high 22 points, cradled a rebound of a missed 3-pointer then took it downcourt and scored to quiet the small but loud crowd. Although Justin Isham answered with a layup that got the Mustangs back within four with 1:10 left, it would be their last points.
Chris Paul made six free throws in the final minute to seal the victory. He finished with 12 points and nine rebounds. Eric Williams had 22 points - 11 in each half - and 10 rebounds.
The tight second half prevented Wake Forest from using its lone Dallas native, Alan Williams, until there were 13.9 seconds left. A fan favorite at home, the end-of-bench reserve got a big ovation from his family and friends when he entered, and when he drew a foul seconds later.
Isham led the Mustangs with 15 points, while Patrick Simpson had 13, Brian Miller 12 and Eric Castro 10.
Bryan Hopkins, usually SMU's top player, was just 2-of-10 from the field and scored nine points. The Mustangs fell to 0-22 against ranked opponents under coach Mike Dement, although they played Wake Forest much tougher than they did in a 73-49 loss last year.
The Demon Deacons were at their high-scoring best in the first half, shooting 53 percent. No one was hotter than Gray, who was 6-of-9 from behind the arc.
He usually followed by pointing at whoever set him up, but he celebrated the fifth one with a fist pump. It was worth it considering it gave him more points (17) than SMU had (14). He had 20 by halftime.
Wake Forest came in as the nation's sixth-highest scoring team (89.8), but posted its fewest points of the season.
