Wake Forest University
NC Central (Exhibition)
Wake Forest Tops Eagles in Exhibition Game, 68-60
11/7/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 7, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
Wake Forest's young basketball team earned some close-game experience it may not have expected as the Demon Deacons had to hold off pesky Division II North Carolina Central, 68-60, Tuesday night in an exhibition game at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.
The Deacons, who open the regular season Saturday against James Madison, could not breathe easy until freshman Anthony Gurley hit a three-pointer from the corner with just over a minute remaining to give Wake Forest a six-point lead. Central turned the ball over on its next possession and Wake freshman Ishmael Smith hit a driving layup with 20 seconds remaining to secure the win for
Freshman L.D. Williams and senior Kyle Visser scored 11 points each to lead a balanced Demon Deacon attack. Visser added nine rebounds and Smith dished out seven assists.
North Carolina Central sophomore Drew Johnson led all scorers with 29 points. The forward shot 11-of-18 from the field and chipped in with two steals and three rebounds as well.
A Lawrence Joel Coliseum crowd of approximately 7,000 watched as Central nearly erased Wake's 11-point halftime lead (38-27). The Eagles cut the lead to three with two minutes left on a three-point field goal by Johnson, but that was as close as they would get.
Wake Forest, 17-17 a year ago, opens the regular season Saturday afternoon at Lawrence Joel Coliseum against James Madison (2 p.m./no TV).
WakeForestSports.com
