Wake Forest University
Boston College
Deacons Fall to BC 81-67 in ACC Tourney
3/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2011
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| Postgame Press Conference 
| Session 1 Highlights
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Fifth-seeded Boston College put three players over the 20-point mark to take down No. 12-seeded Wake Forest, 81-67, in the opening round of the 2011 ACC Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on Thursday.
The loss overshadowed solid performances from a number of Demon Deacons. Travis McKie posted his seventh career double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Nikita Mescheriakov notched a career-high 13 points, and Gary Clark and J.T. Terrell finished with 15 points apiece.
The Eagles jumped out to an early lead on the strength of strong first-half shooting. Boston College shot an impressive 58 percent in the opening period, including 9-of-17 (53 percent) from behind the three-point line to take a 47-31 halftime lead. Wake tried to make a run in the second half, getting as close 11 points, but the Deacs were unable to completely close the gap.
Boston College advances to the quarterfinals to face No. 4 Clemson.
The Eagles' Biko Paris connected six times from distance on the way to finishing with 21 points and five assists. Reggie Jackson led all players with 27 points and six assists. Joe Trapani scored 22 points.
The Deacons end the 2010-11 season with a record of 8-24 (1-15) while the Eagles continue on at 20-11 (9-7). It was the first time that Wake Forest had lost to the same opponent in back-to-back games since 1983, when the NC State Wolfpack beat the Deacs twice in a row shortly before winning the national championship.
Boston College took an early 8-7 lead, with all seven of Wake's points coming from Travis McKie. The Eagles expanded their advantage to 15-9, but the Deacs answered back. Gary Clark drilled a three-pointer, Carson Desrosiers slammed home an open dunk and Nikita used a beautiful up-and-under move for a layup to bring Wake back within two at 18-16.
However, BC then exploded for a 15-2 run helped by lights-out three-point shooting to go ahead by a 33-18 margin. The Eagles went 8-of-13 from three-point range in the first 15 minutes of the game.
The two teams traded buckets over the final five minutes of the half to send Boston College into the locker room with a 47-31 lead.
The Eagles came out of the break strong, scoring the first five points of the second frame. Wake followed with a little spurt, helped by a couple scores by Mescheriakov.
The Eagles would lead by as many as 20 points in the second half, but the Deacons strung together a 10-3 run toward the midway point of the period, capped off by a three-pointer from Gary Clark to cut the lead to 70-57. Mescheriakov followed with his 11th point of the day, tying a career high, on a layup to make the margin only 12 at 71-59.
Mescheriakov got another layup with one minute remaining to get Wake Forest within 11 points at 78-67 but the Deacs would get no closer.
Boston College now leads the all-time series with Wake Forest, 9-3. The Deacons had won three straight in the series entering this season but have now dropped consecutive meetings with the Eagles.
