Overwhelming Win: Wake Forest uses a 50-9 run to race past East Carolina 95-54

GREENVILLE

Wake Forest dismantled East Carolina in a style befitting its No. 6 ranking last night on the way to an eye-opening 95-54 victory at Minges Coliseum.

"It was kind of like we hadn't proved ourselves yet," junior Ish Smith said. "We didn't have that big win where you sit back and say ‘Wow, this team is for real.'

"And I think this win is going to make a lot of people look and say ‘Oh my gosh, these boys are the real deal.' "

In one of their most-dominating performances since Chris Paul left for the NBA four seasons ago, the Deacons shot 62 percent in the second half without committing a turnover and broke a tight game wide open with an astounding 50-9 run.

As good as they were offensively, they were better on defense, while holding one of the most-promising teams in East Carolina history to two field goals on its first 25 attempts after halftime.

The Deacons led 41-37 at halftime and 45-40 with 18½ minutes remaining, then allowed one field goal during the next 17 minutes and seven seconds. The Pirates made four of 30 field goals in the second half and scored on six of 29 possessions before Coach Dino Gaudio of the Deacons emptied his bench with 1:14 remaining.

Wake Forest improved to 11-0 going into a week off for Christmas. East Carolina fell to 8-4.

"It was odd, because we came out and Farouq got an ‘and-one' to start the second half and we were up seven," junior L.D. Williams said, referring to freshman teammate Al-Farouq Aminu. "And I looked back at the clock four minutes later and we were up 20.

"And then you look back at the clock two minutes later and we were up 30. It just kept snowballing from there. I have to really credit our defense for that. Not taking anything away from ECU, but we really forced them to take tough shots."

Aminu piled up 21 points, 12 rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 25 minutes and Chas McFarland contributed 14 points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes.

But what really ignited the Deacons in the second half was the defense of Williams and the floor play of Smith.

Senior Sam Hinnant of East Carolina entered the game averaging 17.5 points, but made two of 12 shots from the floor and one of nine from 3-point range on the way to nine points in 38 minutes.

Williams guarded him most of the game.

"I think L.D. Williams -- and I believe this with all my heart -- is one of the best defenders in America," Gaudio said. "He's always drawing tough assignments night in and night out, and he does a great job on all those guys."

Smith, bouncing back from a disappointing performance at Richmond, was pressed into extra duty when starter Jeff Teague sat out the final eight minutes of the first half with two fouls. But he was at his best in the second half, when the Deacons, who entered the game averaging 18 turnovers, played all 20 minutes without a turnover.

As a consequence Wake Forest scored on 26 of 32 second-half possessions before Gaudio inserted a lineup of walk-ons.

"That's great for us," Gaudio said of Smith's nine assists and two turnovers in 25 minutes. "Ish went in and played well for us, and then we went back to the old Ish (at the point) and Jeff (at wing guard).

"We have that luxury of having a point guard come off the bench who has been a two-year starter."

Coach Mack McCarthy of East Carolina attempted to minimize Wake Forest's advantage in size and athleticism by playing a zone much of the game, but the Deacons continued to work the ball inside for easy baskets.

Although Wake Forest went 6 of 14 on 3-point attempts, it did most of its damage inside while scoring 58 points in the lane.

The loss was the second in a row for East Carolina, which lost to N.C. State 87-76 on Dec. 17.

"We were frayed around the edges at N.C. State, and then tonight we came apart at the seams," McCarthy said. "We played hard in the first half and did the things we needed to do to stay in the game.

"We played a really good basketball team and they exposed everything. They have a lot of answers and came after us in waves."

■ Dan Collins can be reached at 727-7323 or at dcollins@wsjournal.com.

WAKE FOREST -- Aminu 6-11 9-9 21, Johnson 4-10 0-2 9, McFarland 7-9 0-0 14, Teague 4-6 0-0 10, Williams 4-8 3-3 12, Clark 2-2 0-0 4, Hale 2-6 0-0 5, Smith 4-7 2-2 11, Lepore 0-0 0-0 0, McQuilkin 0-0 0-0 0, Bitove 0-0 0-0 0, Davis 0-2 0-0 0, Walker 1-1 0-0 2, Godwin 0-0 0-0 0, Weaver 0-1 0-0 0, Hoekstra 0-0 0-0 0, Woods 3-3 1-2 7. Totals 37-66 15-18 95.

EAST CAROLINA -- Abrams 3-6 0-0 7, Wynn 4-8 0-0 8, Hinnant 2-12 4-5 9, Young 2-11 1-2 5, Sherrod 2-7 0-0 5, Morrow 4-9 7-8 15, Legan 1-6 0-0 3, Turner 0-3 2-2 2. Totals 18-62 14-17 54.

Halftime--Wake Forest 41-37. 3-Point Goals--Wake Forest 6-14 (Teague 2-3, Williams 1-1, Johnson 1-2, Smith 1-2, Hale 1-4, Aminu 0-2), East Carolina 4-20 (Sherrod 1-2, Abrams 1-2, Legan 1-4, Hinnant 1-9, Morrow 0-1, Turner 0-2). Fouled Out--None. Rebounds--Wake Forest 46 (Aminu 12), East Carolina 28 (Morrow 9). Assists--Wake Forest 28 (Smith 9), East Carolina 10 (Young 9). Total Fouls--Wake Forest 16, East Carolina 16. Technical--Wake Forest Bench. A--7,575.