Wake Forest University
Indiana (ACC/Big Ten Challenge)
No. 18 Demon Deacons Crush Indiana, 100-67
12/2/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2003
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By JENNA FRYER
AP Sports Writer
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Eric Williams scored 25 points and freshman Chris Paul had 20, both career highs, to lead No. 18 Wake Forest to a 100-67 victory over Indiana in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge on Tuesday night.
The Demon Deacons (4-0) remained unbeaten in five Challenge games, extended their streak to 19 straight home victories dating to last season and gave third-year coach Skip Prosser his 50th win at the school.
Vytas Danelius added 13 points, Justin Gray had 11 and Jamaal Levy had 12 rebounds for Wake Forest.
Bracey Wright scored 27 points to lead Indiana (2-2). The Hoosiers lost for the first time in three Challenge appearances, making No. 5 Michigan State - which hosts No. 6 Duke on Wednesday night- the only unbeaten Big Ten team in the five-year event.
With just under eight minutes left to play and Wake Forest leading 81-44, the crowd began chanting "ACC! ACC!" to recognize the largest margin of victory in the Challenge. The Deacons' rout bested Illinois' 92-65 victory over North Carolina last season.
Paul, Wake Forest's highly touted freshman, had the best all-around game of his short career.
He made his first five shots, and only missed on his sixth because A.J. Moye fouled him as he drove to the basket on a fast-break off his own steal.
He did his best work in the first half, when he scored 15 points and had five of Wake Forest's 10 first-half steals. He also drew Bracey as his early defensive assignment and applied enough pressure to force him into four turnovers while shooting 2-for-5 for the half with eight points.
Paul finished 7-for-9 from the field, 2-for-2 from 3-point range and had eight assists. In four games, Paul has 21 assists, 14 steals and four turnovers.
Wright scored the bulk of his points in the second half when Taron Downey shifted over to guard him.
The Hoosiers were without senior center George Leach, a native of nearby Charlotte, who missed the game with a knee injury. It cleared the way for freshman Pat Ewing Jr. to make his first career start, which was somewhat uneventful.
Ewing, the son of former NBA star Patrick Ewing, struggled a bit inside stopping Williams, who was 10-for-19 from the field for Wake Forest. Indiana also had a hard time getting the ball inside, especially after falling behind by double digits.
Ewing finished with eight points.
