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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- Wake Forest coach Dave Odom believed he had
to make a choice against Duke's talented offense Wednesday night.
His decision backfired.
Jason Williams, playing on a sprained foot, scored 27 points as
the second-ranked Blue Devils used a 21-3 run to close the first
half and clutch 3-point shooting for an 85-62 victory over Wake Forest (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, No. 9 AP).
|  | | Duke's Jason Williams drives to the basket in the second half for two of his game-high 27 points. |
"We have the ability on this team to hit a lot of killer
shots," Shane Battier said.
No need to remind Odom.
Duke came into the game leading the nation with 10.4 3-pointers
a game, and after getting off to a rough start from the perimeter,
went 14-for-26 against a defense that was allowing opponents 25
percent from beyond the arc.
"One of our goals was to take away the inside game and make
them go to the outside," Odom said. "It's very difficult to take
away both. You have to pick your poison and hope whatever is
happening on the other end goes in your favor. Tonight it did
not."
The victory kept the Blue Devils (18-1, 6-0) in a first-place
tie with North Carolina in the ACC. Duke also improved to 52-2 in
their last 54 regular-season conference games and beat the Demon
Deacons for the ninth straight time.
"It's an accomplishment, but we're not your average team,"
Williams said of the team's 3-point success. "We have
exceptionally great players. We're all able to knock down the 3 if
you leave us open. We just take our shots and that's why we always
knock them down."
The Demon Deacons (14-4, 3-4) started the season 12-0, but have
dropped four of their last six and fell to 0-4 on the road in the
ACC.
Wake Forest played without leading scorer Josh Howard (14.5),
who had the flu, but not even a full squad could have slowed down
another offensive show by the Blue Devils, who have won eight
straight since losing to No. 1 Stanford 84-83 on Dec. 21.
"Howard not playing had a huge impact on the game," Duke coach
Mike Krzyzewski said. "Howard is one of the best players in the
conference. You just don't lose a kid like that and it not have a
negative impact on Wake Forest.
"I was pleased our guys didn't let up," Krzyzewski added.
"Sometimes when you find out things just before a game like that
you think you're going to have it easy. You never have it easy
playing Dave's team."
Battier added 22 points for Duke, while Mike Dunleavy matched
his career high with 21.
"It wasn't just another night," Krzyzewski said when asked
about the ease in which Duke was able to make its long-range
jumpers. "We had a great night when you go over 50 percent from 3.
Shane and Jason really felt big shots and then Dunleavy hit two
that were huge."
Broderick Hicks led Wake Forest with 16 points.
Wake Forest trailed by 16 points at halftime, and closed to nine
three different times in the second half, the last with 8:57 left.
But Williams had a steal and dunk, Battier hit a 3-pointer and
Dunleavy made a bank shot to push the margin back to 16.
"Jason played a tremendous game," Battier said of the team's
point guard. "You see him gaining strides as a player every time
out."
Duke's closing first-half run was fueled by Williams and Battier
as Wake Forest was held to one basket over the final 6:42.
Williams make two driving layups and two free throws and Battier
had a 3-pointer as the Blue Devils scored 11 straight points to
take control. A little more than a minute after his shot beyond the
arc, Battier made a driving layup and another 3-pointer before Odom
was called for a technical foul as the game slipped away from the
Demon Deacons.
Battier made one of two free throws as the Blue Devils took yet
another commanding 16-point lead into the break.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
Wake Forest Clubhouse
Duke Clubhouse
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