Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
Duke
Deacons Stumble At Duke
2/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 14, 2006
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - J.J. Redick needed two 3-pointers to break the NCAA career record. For the top scorer in Division I, it wasn't much of a challenge.
The Duke senior made those necessary shots and added two more on his way to 33 points, helping the second-ranked Blue Devils run away from Wake Forest 93-70 Tuesday night to remain undefeated in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Freshman Josh McRoberts had 12 of his 16 points in the first half and Shelden Williams also scored 16 for Duke (24-1, 12-0 ACC), which is in position to reclaim the No. 1 ranking in The Associated Press poll next week following Connecticut's loss to Villanova on Monday night. Of course, the Blue Devils still must beat Miami later this week.
The Demon Deacons (13-12, 1-10) lost their seventh conference game in a row. Justin Gray led them with 18 points, while Eric Williams added 17 points and 13 rebounds.
The story of this game was Redick. He got two 3-pointers in the first 12 1/2 minutes to give him 414 for his career to pass the mark previously held by Curtis Staples, who had 413 at Virginia from 1994-98. Staples was in attendance and presented Redick with a game ball in a ceremony following the game.
Redick's first long-range shot came nearly 7 minutes after the opening tip-off, when he burned defender Cameron Stanley with a step-back jumper. The next trip, Redick lofted a perfect lob pass to McRoberts for a dunk, and added another assist on the ensuing possession when the duo hooked up again for another jam by McRoberts.
The second one led to a three-point play, and Sean Dockery stepped out beyond the arc a few seconds later to give Duke a 26-11 lead. It was an 11-point game a few minutes later when Redick got the record.
Using a screen by Lee Melchionni to lose Justin Gray, he took a pass from DeMarcus Nelson for an open catch-and-shoot from the wing. The ball swished through, setting off a raucous celebration by the Cameron Crazies.
Redick wasn't done yet. He went to the other end and got a steal, which led to a three-point play and a 34-17 advantage. He had to sit through a media timeout before converting his free throw, and when he returned to the line, the crowd chanted, "All-time leader!" as his record was announced.
He didn't acknowledge the applause but did take time to accept congratulations from Dockery and Nelson. The free throw was a mere formality for Redick, and he finished the first half with 18 points.
Even better, Redick passed Virginia's Bryant Stith for fourth on the ACC career scoring list, and he remained on pace to pass Dickie Hemric at the top of the list. He had 2,587 for Wake Forest, and Redick now trails by 60 points with five games remaining in the regular season.
The Blue Devils led by 14 at the break before Wake Forest briefly rallied. A tip-in by Kevin Swinton made it 54-43 before Duke responded with a 12-2 run - completed with a layup from Redick - and the Deacons never recovered.
