March 5, 2002

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2002 ACC TOURNAMENT Wake Forest (19-11/9-7) vs. Georgia Tech (15-15/7-9)

Game #31 / March 8, 2002 Charlotte Coliseum (23,901) Charlotte, NC

Tip-Off: Approximately 9:20 p.m.

Television: Jefferson-Pilot. Tim Brant (play-by-play) and former Deac Gil McGregor (color analysis) call the action. Beverly Rumley produces.

Radio: The Deacon Radio Network, distributed by ISP. Stan Cotten (play-by-play) and Mark Freidinger (color analysis) call the action. Cotten and "Dinger" will broadcast all eight ACC Tournament games.

The Records: Wake Forest is 19-11 overall and 9-7 in the ACC after an 83-71 win over visiting NC State Saturday in the regular season finale. Georgia Tech is 15-15 and 7-9 following an 86-78 win at Florida State on Saturday.

The Rankings: Wake Forest fell out of the national polls this week for the first time in 15 weeks. The Deacons received votes in both the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls. Georgia Tech is not ranked.

WFU Coach Skip Prosser: Prosser (U.S. Merchant Marine Academy '72) is 19-11 in his first season at Wake Forest. In nine years overall as a head coach, including one season at Loyola (MD) and seven seasons at Xavier, Prosser has a career record of 184-89.

Georgia Tech Coach Paul Hewitt: Hewitt (St. John Fisher '85) is 32-28 in two seasons with the Yellow Jackets, 98-55 in five years overall.

The Series History: Wake Forest leads, 26-25. More series information on page three.

The Officials: Announced on game day.

Wake Plays Tech In Friday's ACC Tournament Quarterfinal

Wake Forest, which earned the ACC Tournament's No. 3 seed and perhaps eased any anxiety about an NCAA Tournament berth with a regular season-ending 83-71 win over visiting NC State Saturday, takes on red-hot Georgia Tech in one of four quarterfinal games Friday at the Charlotte Coliseum (approximately 9:20 p.m./Jefferson-Pilot TV & ESPN2). The Demon Deacons, 19-11 overall and 9-7 in the ACC, got a much-needed win over the Wolfpack Saturday. Senior Darius Songaila scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds, helping Wake Forest snap a three-game losing streak and build momentum heading into postseason play. Georgia Tech, 15-15 and 7-9, may be the hottest team in the ACC. The Yellow Jackets have won eight out of their last 10 games, including an 86-78 win at Florida State Saturday and a 90-77 win over Wake Forest on Feb. 27 in Atlanta. The Wake-Tech winner will take on the winner of the Duke-North Carolina quarterfinal game in Saturday's semifinals (4:00 p.m.). Wake Forest, which leads the all-time series with Georgia Tech, 26-25, split a pair of regular season meetings with the Yellow Jackets. Wake Forest won in Winston-Salem (87-74 on Jan. 26) and lost in Atlanta (90-77 on Feb. 27). Wake and Tech will meet in the ACC Tournament for the first time since the Deacons beat the Jackets in the 1996 championship game. The Deacons, 23-24 all-time in quarterfinal games, are 2-0 all-time versus Tech in ACC Tournament play.

A Quick Look At The Deacons

Wake Forest enters postseason play with the ACC's most experienced roster and enjoying a touch of momentum after beating NC State 83-71 in Saturday's regular season finale. The third-seeded Deacons are led by a pair of All-ACC selections -- senior forward Darius Songaila (2nd team) and junior forward Josh Howard (3rd team) -- and a supporting cast mix of seniors and freshmen. The Deacons, 19-11 overall and 9-7 in the ACC, are a veteran team with five seniors in the rotation. Three freshmen, including starting point guard Taron Downey, play significant roles. But the leaders are Songaila and Howard, who team to give Wake Forest one of the best frontcourt duos in college basketball. Howard recently returned to action after missing three of four games with a high ankle sprain. Songaila (17.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game), who has averaged 21.7 points over his last six games, is playing the best basketball of his four-year career. He scored 20 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds in Saturday's win over State. Howard (14.6 ppg. and 8.0 rpg.), who returned from a high ankle sprain Feb. 24, has averaged 16.3 points and 10.0 rebounds over his last three games. At 6-6, Howard ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds. Senior Craig Dawson (11.9 ppg.) is one of the most prolific three-point shooters in ACC history (241 career three-point field goals). He is in a two-game scoring slump after a 27-point effort at Maryland Feb. 24. Senior Antwan Scott (9.9 ppg. and 4.9 rpg.) ranks among the ACC leaders with 46 blocked shots and he shoots 55.3 percent from the field. Senior Broderick Hicks (9.4 ppg.) has scored in double figures in seven of his last nine games, including a 15-point outing last Saturday. Freshman Taron Downey (4.6 ppg.), who has started 10 of the last 11 games at point guard, was 3-of-3 from three-point range at Georgia Tech Feb. 27. Junior transfer Steve Lepore (4.7 ppg.), a key reserve off the bench, has five three-pointers over his last three games. Freshman Vytas Danelius (6.6 ppg. and 4.0 rpg.) scored nine points against NC State last Saturday. Of Wake's 11 losses, six have come against teams ranked sixth or higher, seven have come versus teams ranked in the top 10.

More From Wake's 83-71 Win Over NC State Last Saturday

Senior Darius Songaila took over the game when he was needed, leading Wake Forest to an 83-71 win over NC State in last Saturday's regular season finale at Lawrence Joel Coliseum. Songaila scored 16 of his team-high 20 points in the second half and he finished the game with a career-high 18 rebounds. Broderick Hicks added 15 points and Josh Howard chipped in 14 points and nine rebounds. Wake Forest led 45-36 at halftime, but NC State battled back to tie the score with 7:27 remaining. Songaila scored eight points in the final 2:37 to help secure the victory. Wake out-rebounded the Wolfpack, 48-28. More from Saturday's win over NC State: - Songaila's 18 rebounds tied for the most single-game rebounds by an ACC player this season (see below). - Wake's rebound margin (+20) was its largest since a 48-24 margin against Richmond Jan. 2. - The Deacons had season-lows for three-point field goals (2), three-point attempts (12) and three-point percentage (.157).

Most Rebounds In The ACC This Season 18, Darius Songaila (WF) vs. NC State, March 2, 2002 18, Carlos Boozer (DU) vs. Wake Forest, Jan. 19, 2002 17, Travis Watson (VA) vs. Wake Forest, Jan. 17, 2002

Wake Hopes To Regain Tournament Magic From '95 And '96

Since 1995, only three teams have won the ACC Tournament. Wake captured back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996. North Carolina won two straight in 1997 and 1998. Duke enters this year's tournament having won three straight. No team has ever won four consecutive titles.

Wake-Georgia Tech Series History

- Wake Forest leads the all-time series, 26-25. - The Demon Deacons have won five of the last seven meetings. - The two teams split the regular season series for the second straight year. Wake Forest won in Winston-Salem, 87-74, on Jan. 26. Georgia Tech won in Atlanta, 90-77, on Feb. 27. - Georgia Tech leads the series when playing in Atlanta, 16-7. - Wake has won eight of the last nine meetings in Lawrence Joel Coliseum and the Deacons are 10-3 against Tech all-time in Joel. n The home team has won 15 out of the last 18 meetings. - Georgia Tech won 12 straight meetings from 1985-91. - The first meeting between the two teams came on Dec. 29, 1949 at the Dixie Classic in Raleigh. - Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser is 1-1 all-time versus Georgia Tech. - Tech coach Paul Hewitt is 2-2 all-time against Wake Forest.

Wake Forest-Georgia Tech ACC Tournament Series History

- Wake Forest and Georgia Tech have met just twice previously in the ACC Tournament and the Deacons won both meetings. - Friday's meeting is similar to the first ACC Tournament meeting between the two teams in 1994. Like this year, Wake Forest was the No. 3 seed and Georgia Tech was the No. 6 seed as the two teams met in the first round. The tournament was held in Charlotte that year. - The last meeting came in the 1996 championship game in Greensboro. The No. 2 seed Deacons beat the No. 1 seed Yellow Jackets, 75-74. Tim Duncan led Wake Forest with 27 points. Stephon Marbury scored 26 points to lead Georgia Tech. - The first meeting came in the first round of the 1994 tournament in Charlotte. The No. 3 seed Deacons beat the No. 6 seed Georgia Tech, 74-49. Randolph Childress led Wake with 19 points and Travis Best led the Yellow Jackets with 14 points.

Deacon-Yellow Jacket Connections

- Georgia Tech strength and conditioning coaches Ed Ellis and Scott Sinclair both previously worked at Wake Forest. - Deacon signee Chris Ellis hails from Marietta, GA. - John Pendergast, the public address announcer at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, is a Wake Forest graduate. His son, Tripp, is a freshman at Wake Forest and works in the media relations office. - Former Deacon Rodney Rogers and former Yellow Jacket Kenny Anderson are teammates on the Boston Celtics.

Wake Forest's ACC Tournament History In Charlotte

Wake Forest's four ACC Tournament crowns have come in Raleigh (two) and in Greensboro (two). The Deacons have not fared well in ACC Tournaments held in Charlotte. Wake is 4-10 all-time in ACC Tournament play held in Charlotte. The last time Wake played in a Charlotte-held ACC Tournament (2000), the Deacons beat North Carolina in the quarterfinals before losing to Duke in the semifinals. Wake's five seniors will be playing in a Charlotte ACC Tournament for the third time.

Wake Forest Owns Solid ACC Tournament History

In 48 years of ACC Tournament competition, Wake Forest has enjoyed its share of March success: - The Deacons have won four ACC Tournament championships (1996, 1995, 1962, 1961). - Wake has advanced to the championship game 10 times. The Deacons advanced to the finals in each of the first three ACC Tournaments from 1954-56, although they lost in the title game each year. - In 1996, Wake was the first team to win consecutive ACC titles since North Carolina in 1981 and 1982. Since Wake's back-to-back crowns, North Carolina (1997 and 1998) and Duke (1999, 2000 and 2001) have won consecutive titles. - Wake Forest has advanced to at least the semifinal round 24 times. That includes a 23-24 record in quarterfinal games and a first-round bye in 1961. - Five Deacons have been named ACC Tournament MVP with the most recent being Tim Duncan in 1996. - Since winning back-to-back titles in 1995 and 1996, Wake Forest has struggled in the tournament. The Deacons are 2-5 in ACC Tournament play since 1996, advancing past the quarterfinals just twice, in 1997 and 2000.

WFU's History As The No. 3 Seed

- Wake Forest's No. 3 seed is its highest ACC Tournament seed since earning the No. 2 seed in 1997. - The Deacons are seeded third for the eighth time in the 49-year history of the tournament. Wake was last seeded No. 3 in 1994. - Wake has never won the ACC Tournament as a No. 3 seed but has reached the championship game twice -- in the inaugural tournament in 1954 and in 1956. - The Deacs have lost in the quarterfinals as a No. 3 seed just once -- in 1991, when No. 6 seed Virginia beat Wake Forest in Charlotte. - The last time Wake Forest earned the No. 1 seed came in 1995. The Deacons are a perfect 8-0 as the No. 1 seed, winning the ACC Tournament each time (1961, 1962 and 1995). - Wake Forest is 9-2 all-time against the No. 6 seed in the ACC Tournament. The Deacons last played the No. 6 seed in 1996, when the Deacons beat No. 6 Clemson in the semifinals.

Deacs Finish In Top Five For 10th Straight Season

Since 1993, Wake Forest has finished fifth or better in the ACC standings -- a streak of 10 consecutive years. The Deacons are the only team to achieve that feat. The Deacons reached other impressive ACC marks in 2001-02: - Wake finished above .500 in the ACC for the first time since going 11-5 in 1996-97. - The Deacs earned their highest ACC Tournament seed (third) since 1996-97. - Wake Forest is guaranteed its 12th consecutive winning season. - The Deacons beat three nationally-ranked teams for the first time since 1996-97.

Wake Forest Eyes 12th Consecutive Postseason Appearance

Wake Forest, 19-11 overall, has put together a resume that certainly guarantees the Deacons their 12th consecutive postseason appearance. Wake finished above .500 (9-7) in the ACC, was ranked in the top 25 almost all season, and seven of its losses came against teams ranked in the top 10. Six losses came against teams ranked in the top six. Unless North Carolina wins the ACC Tournament, Wake Forest will own the longest current streak of consecutive postseason appearances. The Deacons are looking to lock up their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance and their ninth NCAA Tournament appearance since 1991. Wake played in the NIT in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

ACC Tournament Notebook

- Wake's Skip Prosser will coach in the ACC Tournament for the first time. Prosser's teams have won postseason tournaments in two different conferences. In his first season as a head coach, at Loyola (MD) in 1994, his Greyhounds won the MAAC Tournament. In 1998, Prosser's Xavier team captured the Atlantic 10 Tournament. Overall, Prosser is 9-6 in conference postseason tournaments. - The No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament is 18-29 all-time against the No. 6 seed. - Wake Forest owns a number of ACC Tournament records including most points (107 by Randolph Childress in 1995), most rebounds (56 by Tim Duncan in 1996), free throws made (33 by Len Chappell in 1962) and three-point field goals (23 by Randolph Childress in 1995). - Wake's performance in the ACC Tournament isn't always an indicator of how it will do in the NCAA Tournament. In 1977, Wake lost in the ACC Tournament first round, but made it all the way to the NCAA regional finals. In 1984, Wake lost in the ACC semifinals but went on to play in the regional championship. Conversely, WFU won the 1995 ACC Tournament, but lost in the NCAA Sweet 16. - The Wake-Georgia Tech match-up Friday night will be the only quarterfinal game involving teams that split regular season meetings. - The Deacon Radio Network will broadcast all eight ACC Tournament games.

Wake's Schedule One Of The Nation's Most Difficult Slates

Wake Forest is facing one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. Consider: - No other team in the country can claim to have four of the nation's five highest-ranked teams on the schedule -- No. 1 Kansas, No. 2 Maryland, No. 3 Duke and No. 5 Cincinnati. - In all, five of the 13 highest-ranked teams in the country, including No. 13 Marquette, are on the Deacon schedule. - Earlier this season Wake played three consecutive teams ranked in the top 10. - In February, Wake played consecutive games vs. No. 3 Duke and No. 2 Maryland. - Wake Forest played 13 regular season games against teams currently ranked 45th or better in the RPI ratings. - The Deacons have played 11 nationally-ranked opponents this season. The only time in WFU history that the Deacons faced more nationally-ranked opponents in one season was 13 in 1994-95. - The Deacs are 3-8 against ranked teams this season. The last time Wake had more wins in one season against ranked teams came in 1996-97. - Seven of Wake's 11 losses have come against teams ranked in the top 10.

A Closer Look At The Deac Numbers

- Wake Forest is averaging a lofty 82.1 points per game. That's the highest scoring average by a Wake Forest team since 1977-78. - Wake is just 77 points shy of breaking the school single-season record for points scored. - The Deacons rank third in the ACC and seventh nationally in scoring. - Over the last nine games, Wake has averaged 87.8 points per contest. - Wake has gone over the 100-point mark twice this season. Prior to coach Skip Prosser's arrival, the Deacons scored 100 points just once between Feb. 10, 1993 and the end of the 2000-01 season -- a string of 267 games. - The Deacons' free throw percentage (.745) ranks second in the ACC and is Wake's highest percentage since the 1994-95 season. - Wake's field goal percentage (.475) is its highest since the 1992-93 season and it ranks third in the ACC. - The Deacs' rebound average (39.1) is their highest since the 1977-78 season. - Wake averages more assists per game (16.3) than any Deacon team since the 1992-93 season.

Deacons Eye 20th Victory

Wake Forest enters postseason play with a 19-11 record, which is identical to the Deacons' final record in 2000-01. The Deacons are one victory away from their first 20-win season since 2000, just their third 20-win season since 1997 and the 16th 20-win season in school history. More notes about Wake and 20-win seasons: - If Wake Forest reaches the 20-win plateau, Skip Prosser will become just the second Deacon coach to win 20 games in his first season. - Prosser, with another win, would own his sixth consecutive 20-win season and his seventh 20-win season overall. - On Friday, Wake Forest will play its 31st game of the season. Only six teams in school history will have played more games.

Deacons By The Numbers

18-1 when Wake Forest shoots a higher field goal percentage than its opponent. Its only loss came Feb. 27 at Georgia Tech. 13-1 when Wake has more free throw attempts than the opponent. 6-2 in games decided by six points or less. 6-0 when Josh Howard makes two or more three-point field goals. 3-1 in games decided by one point. 15consecutive games Songaila has scored in double figures. 102 times in Songaila's four-year career he has scored in double figures. 285 consecutive games in which the Deacons have made at least one three-point field goal. 2-8 when the opponent shoots 50 percent or better. 6-10 when Wake Forest shoots less than 50 percent.

Deacons Shuffling Starting Lineup

Wake Forest used just one starting lineup the first 19 games of the season. Since then, however, the Deacons have used seven different lineups over the last 11 games. All five scholarship seniors started in the regular season finale against NC State. Darius Songaila is the only Deacon to start in every game. Craig Dawson has started 29 of 30 games.

Prosser A Finalist For Naismith National Coach Of The Year

Skip Prosser, in his first season as the Wake Forest head coach, is one of 20 finalists for the prestigious Naismith College Coach of the Year award. The announcement was made in Atlanta, home of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. Prosser is one of four ACC coaches on the list of finalists, joining Virginia's Pete Gillen, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Maryland's Gary Williams. The award will be presented April 5.

Skip Prosser Already In Select ACC Coaching Fraternity

Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser produced a 9-7 record in his first ACC season. Only three first-year coaches in the 49-year history of the league won more ACC games in their rookie season. North Carolina's Matt Doherty (2001) and Bill Guthridge (1998) share the record for most wins by a first-year ACC coach with 13. NC State's Press Maravich, in 1965, earned a 10-3 record. More on Prosser's first season at Wake Forest: - Prosser has accomplished what no other first-year coach in Deacon history has done since 1927 -- produce a winning season. Prosser is the first rookie coach at Wake Forest to earn a winning record since James Baldwin led the Deacons to a 22-3 record in his first season in 1927. Prosser, in fact, has earned more wins in his initial season than any other first-year Deacon coach, with the exception of Baldwin. - Prosser is the first rookie WFU coach ever to win on the road against UNC and NC State in the same season. - He is a candidate for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award.

Prosser Ranks Among Winningest Active Division I Coaches

Skip Prosser, who previously served as the head coach at Loyola (MD) and Xavier, is in his first season at Wake Forest. His record at Wake Forest is 19-11. His career record, in nine seasons, is 184-89. Prosser comes to Winston-Salem after serving seven seasons as the head coach at Xavier, where he compiled a record of 148-65 (.695) and led the Musketeers to six postseason appearances. A 1972 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Prosser's teams won 20 games or more six times in seven years at Xavier. He has the 21st-highest winning percentage among active Division I coaches and he helped Xavier earn one of the nation's highest graduation rates. Joining Prosser on the coaching staff are former Xavier assistants Jeff Battle and Dino Gaudio and former Musketeer players Chris Mack (assistant coach) and Pat Kelsey (director of basketball operations).

Winningest Active Division I Coaches Rk. Coach Team Yrs W L Pct. 1 Roy Williams Kansas 14 382 91 .808 2 John Kresse Charleston 22 560 143 .797 3 Jerry Tarkanian Fresno St. 31 777 200 .795 4 Rick Majerus Utah 18 381 132 .743 5 Jim Boeheim Syracuse 26 620 218 .740 6 Lute Olson Arizona 29 657 235 .737 7 Rick Pitino Louisville 16 369 135 .732 8 Tom Izzo Michigan St. 7 167 63 .726 9 Bob Huggins Cincinnati 21 496 171 .744 10 Mike Krzyzewski Duke 27 632 226 .737 11 John Chaney Temple 30 671 251 .728 12 Bob Knight Texas Tech 36 785 296 .726 13 Eddie Sutton Oklahoma St. 32 702 276 .718 14 John Calipari Memphis 10 232 93 .714 15 Tubby Smith Kentucky 11 254 103 .711 16 Steve Lavin UCLA 6 133 57 .700 17 Jim Calhoun UConn 30 618 285 .684 18 Mike Montgomery Stanford 24 492 231 .680 18 John Giannini Maine 13 259 122 .680 18 Bill Carmody Northwestern 6 119 56 .680 21 Skip Prosser Wake Forest 9 184 89 .674 22 Mark Gottfried Alabama 7 147 72 .671 23 Lefty Driesell Georgia St. 40 782 387 .669 24 Billy Tubbs TCU 28 595 296 .668 * Includes the 2001-02 regular season.

Prosser Has Two Wins Vs. No. 1

Wake Forest's Skip Prosser has coached against the nation's No. 1-ranked team four times and he has come away a winner twice. Prosser's Xavier teams beat No. 1 Cincinnati in 1999-00 and in 1996-97. His only losses to a No. 1-ranked team was an overtime decision to No. 1 Massachusetts in 1995-96 and the loss at No. 1 Duke on Jan. 19. Prosser, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Maryland's Gary Williams are the only current Atlantic Coast Conference coaches to own more than one victory against a No. 1-ranked team.

Senior Darius Songaila Enjoying An All-ACC-Type Season

Perhaps senior Darius Songaila is motivated because he was left off the preseason All-ACC team, or maybe he's flourishing in coach Skip Prosser's system. Regardless, Songaila is enjoying his finest season as a Deacon. Songaila ranks among the ACC leaders in 11 different statistical categories. More on Songaila: - Over his last six games, Songaila has averaged 21.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 56.1 percent. - In the regular season finale last Saturday, he pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds, tying for the most by an ACC player this season. - He leads the team and ranks fifth in the ACC in scoring (17.7 points per game). - Songaila has scored in double figures in every game but one this season and he has scored in double figures 102 times in his career. - He ranks third in the ACC in free throw percentage (.850). In ACC games only, he ranks second at 87.0 percent. - His career free throw percentage (.829) is the sixth-highest in Wake history. - Songaila ranks sixth in the ACC in rebounding (8.2 rpg.). - He ranks eighth in Wake Forest history with 782 career rebounds. - He ranks tied for eighth in Wake history with 93 career blocks. - He ranks 14th in the ACC in blocked shots (0.80). - Songaila has 13 double-doubles this season. Only Virginia's Travis Watson (16) has as many in the ACC. Only five different players in WFU history had more single-season double-doubles. - Songaila owns 22 career double-doubles, which ranks fifth in school history. - He ranks fourth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.521). - He ranks ninth in Wake Forest career scoring history with 1,784 points. - Songaila is just the sixth player in Wake Forest history to accumulate 1,500 points and 700 boards. - Only four players in school history have made more free throws than Songaila (558) and only five players have attempted more free throws (673). - He has scored 20 or more points in a game 22 times, including 12 times this season and eight times in his last 10 games. - In ACC games, Songaila ranks 10th in the league in assists (3.06), 13th in steals (1.38) and 10th in assist-to-turnover ratio (0.86). - Songaila was named to the Preseason NIT All-Tournament team.

Songaila's Last Seven Games Opponent PTS REB FT-A AST ST vs. NC State 20 *18 8-14 4 3 at Georgia Tech 24 4 6-6 2 1 at Maryland 20 6 6-6 *6 1 vs. Duke 12 4 6-7 2 1 vs. Virginia *30 11 8-8 2 0 at Clemson 24 7 4-4 4 1 vs. Cincinnati 22 12 9-10 1 1 * career high

Songaila Gaining Reputation As Clutch Performer

Senior Darius Songaila is the type of player who wants the ball in his hands at crunch time. And each time, the results have been great for Wake Forest: - Songaila hit a lay-up with 2.7 seconds remaining to lift Wake Forest to a 79-78 win over UNC-Wilmington in the season opener. - Nov. 21 against Fresno State, Songaila's follow tip with 1.7 seconds left gave the Deacons a 62-61 win over the Bulldogs in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden. - Songaila's two free throws with 3:37 remaining broke a 57-57 tie en route to a win over 19th-ranked Marquette on Dec. 29. - In Wake's 82-81 win at NC State Jan. 30, Songaila hit two free throws with 1:35 left. - He scored eight points in the final 2:37 of Wake's 83-71 win over NC State March 2.

Josh Howard: One Of The ACC's Most Versatile Players

Junior Josh Howard does it all for Wake Forest. He ranks among the ACC leaders in scoring (14.6 ppg.) and rebounding (8.0 rpg.). At 6-6, he ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds, and he's also listed among the league leaders in field goal percentage, free throw percentage (ACC games), steals and assists (ACC games). Howard returned to action Feb. 24 after missing most or all of four games. He may be Wake's best overall defender and he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the nation. More on Howard: - Howard played 18 injury-filled minutes Feb. 13 against Clemson. Throw out that game and he has averaged 18.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots over his last seven games. - Wake Forest went 1-3 between Feb. 9 and Feb. 21 when he sat out most or all of four games with a high ankle sprain. - In his first game back from injury -- Feb. 24 at Maryland -- he had 18 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. - He ranks 12th in the ACC in scoring (14.6). He averages 15.9 points per game in ACC games. - Howard ranks second in the ACC in offensive rebounds (3.52) and he ranks seventh in the ACC in overall rebounding (8.0). - Ninety-five of his 215 rebounds have come on the offensive boards. - He ranks fifth in the ACC in field goal percentage (.510). - Only eight players in the ACC have more double-doubles this season than Howard (five). - Just a junior, Howard has scored 1,121 career points to rank 31st in WFU history. - He ranks eighth in the ACC in steals (1.63). - His seven steals against Georgia Tech on Jan. 26 were one shy of tying Muggsy Bogues' single-game record. - Howard ranks sixth among Wake's all-time leaders in steals with 144. - Howard ranks ninth in the ACC in blocked shots (1.04 bspg.) and in conference games only he ranks fourth (1.14). - He is tied for eighth in Wake Forest history with 93 career blocked shots.

Howard's Last Seven Injury-Free Games Opponent PTS REB AST BS ST vs NC State 14 9 0 2 2 at Georgia Tech 17 6 2 1 0 at Maryland 18 *15 1 1 2 vs. North Carolina *24 2 3 2 2 at Florida State 15 9 5 0 1 at NC State 21 9 5 1 2 vs. Georgia Tech 20 9 5 2 *7 · Career High

Craig Dawson Leads ACC In 3-Point Percentage, 4th In 3-Pointers Made

As senior Craig Dawson's career winds down, he is finally beginning to gain notice as one of the nation's premier three-point shooters. Over his last six games, Dawson is 24-of-46 (.522) from three-point range while averaging 16.0 points per game. Take a look at what Dawson is accomplishing this season: - On Feb. 13 at Clemson, Dawson tied an ACC single-game record and broke the Wake school record by making 11 three-point field goals (on 17 attempts). He scored 10 of his career-high 38 points in the final 1:02 of regulation. - Feb. 24 at Maryland, Dawson was 7-of-9 from three-point range en route to 27 points. - With 86 three-point field goals this season, only Randolph Childress owns more single-season three-pointers in WFU history. With 10 more threes this season, he will tie the single-season record of 96 held by Childress. - He ranks fourth in Wake history and 14th in ACC history with 241 career three-pointers. - He leads the ACC in three-point field goal percentage (.430). Dawson is vying to become the first Deacon to lead the ACC in three-point field goal percentage since Ricky Peral in 1996.