Wake Forest University
Xavier
Wake Forest Downs Xavier, 96-92, in Double Overtime
1/3/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2010
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Senior Ishmael Smith scored a career-high 28 points, including nine in the two overtime periods, to lead Wake Forest to a 96-92 win against Xavier in the inaugural Skip Prosser Classic on Sunday at the Joel Coliseum.
Wake Forest improves to 11-2 on the season and extends its winning streak to seven straight games. Xavier falls to 8-5 with the loss.
Wake Forest needed extra time to decide the result for the second straight game. It marked the first back to back overtime contests for the Deacs since January 27 and 31, 2001. It was also the first double overtime game for Wake Forest since March 8, 2007, a 114-112 win against Georgia Tech in the ACC Tournament.
Neither team was able to gain separation during the first overtime period as the lead never went to more than three points. Xavier grabbed the lead by three on three consecutive points by Jamel Mclean. Wake Forest tied the game at 85 with 24 seconds left in the extra period on a step back three from Ishmael Smith, his third three of the game. Xavier's Jordan Crawford had the final shot of the overtime period, but his attempt was blocked by Chas McFarland to send the game to a second OT.
With the game tied at 89 in the second overtime period, Wake Forest went on a 5-1 run to take a 94-90 lead with 13 seconds left. A jumper from Smith gave the Demon Deacons the lead and C.J. Harris's layup put Wake in front by four. Xavier cut the lead to 94-92 on a jumper from Mark Lyons with three seconds remaining. Harris put the game away with a pair of free throws with two seconds left.
Wake Forest placed four players in double figures, led by Smith's career high 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting, including 3-of-3 shooting from the three-point line. Smith also added a game-high nine assists, four rebounds and three blocks.
Al-Farouq Aminu notched his ninth double-double of the season, scoring 26 points and bringing down 18 rebounds. Harris tallied 15 points and L.D. Williams added 10.
Crawford scored a game-high 30 points to lead the Musketeers. Mclean recorded a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds, while Terrell Holloway scored 13 points.
Wake Forest shot 51.5 percent (34-of-66) from the field, while Xavier was 32-of-86 for 37.2 percent. The Deacs made 40 percent (4-of-10) of their shots from the three-point line and the Musketeers were 5-for-23 (21.7 percent) from behind the arc. The Demon Deacons struggled at the foul line, making just 55.8 percent (24-of-43) from the charity stripe. Xavier was 23-of-30 (76.7 percent) from the free throw line.
Xavier used a 26-16 edge on the glass and 14-of-16 shooting from the free throw line to take a two point lead into the locker room after the first half.
Wake Forest established the first sizeable lead of the contest, going on a 9-3 run to take a 14-8 lead The Deacs did much of their work at the free throw line during the run, scoring six of the nine points from the charity stripe.
Xavier answered right back by scoring the next six points to tie the game at 14. Mclean completed an old fashioned three-point play to cut the lead to three and a three from Brad Redford tied the game.
With Wake Forest leading 19-14, Xavier used an 8-2 run to take its first lead of the game at 22-21 with 8:08 left. Crawford scored four points for the Musketeers during the run, including a turnaround jumper on the baseline to give Xavier the lead.
Xavier continued to play well, stretching its lead to five near the end of the opening half. However, Harris was able to make three free throws with 1.7 seconds left in the first half to cut the deficit to two at halftime.
Wake Forest came out strong in the second half, using an 18-6 run to take a 10-point lead with 13:29 left in the game. Aminu scored nine points during the Demon Deacon spurt, including a dunk off a nice pass from Smith to put Wake in front 59-49.
Xavier was able to battle back, regaining the lead at 67-65 with 6:45 left in the game. Trailing 60-52, the Musketeers used a 15-5 run to take the advantage. A layup from Kenny Frease tied the game at 65 and then a Crawford dunk put Xavier in front by two.
With Xavier leading 76-72, Wake Forest scored six unanswered points to take the lead with 1:22 left. Smith made a three from the right wing to cut the lead to one. Williams followed a steal with a three-point play to give Wake the lead.
Xavier was able to tie the game for the 11th time with 58 seconds left on Holloway's drive and jumper.
The Musketeers had a chance to win the game in regulation as Crawford attempted a three from the left wing with two seconds left, but his shot was short, thanks to good defense from Smith.
Wake Forest opens Atlantic Coast Conference play on Saturday, January 9, traveling to Coral Gables, Fla., to face the Miami Hurricanes. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. (ET) and the game will be aired live on ESPNU and the Wake Forest ISP Sports Network.
