Basketball Game Notes - Wake Forest vs. NC State
12/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest is set to open its 57th season of play in the Atlantic Coast Conference by hosting longtime rival NC State on Sunday evening. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum in Winston-Salem. The game will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Net and will also be available on the Wake Forest ISP Sports Radio Network.
The Deacons are 7-2 on the season following their 80-69 victory at UNC Wilmington on Wednesday at Trask Coliseum. L.D. Williams scored a career-high 23 points to lead four Deacons in double figures. Williams went 11-for-12 at the foul line, including 8-for-8 in the final 1:12 of the game.
Ishmael Smith tied his career-highs with 19 points and four steals. Al-Farouq Aminu posted his ACC-leading sixth double-double in nine games with 17 points and 13 rebounds.
Aminu continues to lead the Deacs, averaging a double-double of 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds this season. Smith and C.J. Harris are also averaging double figures, scoring 12.4 ppg apiece.
NC State comes in at 8-1 on the year following its 79-76 defeat of Elon on Thursday in Raleigh. The Wolfpack are led by junior forward Tracy Smith, who is averaging 18.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season.
NC State leads the series with Wake Forest, 131-98. In its 230th all-time meeting, the series dates back to the 1910-11 season and is the third-most frequent matchup in ACC history. The teams split last year's two meetings, with each squad winning on its home court. The Deacons have won four of the past five meetings with the Wolfpack at the Joel Coliseum.
Wake Forest in ACC Openers
Wake Forest is 25-31 all-time in ACC openers. The Deacons have won two straight league openers under Dino Gaudio. Wake Forest has not won three straight ACC openers since winning four straight from 1994-97.
Next Up...
Wake Forest will break for the holidays before returning to action on Monday, Dec. 28, vs. Triad rival UNC Greensboro at the Greensboro Coliseum. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Deacs will then ring in the New Year by hosting Richmond on Thursday, Dec. 31.
