WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Robert O'Kelley showed up at Wake
Forest's game against North Carolina State expecting to start as
always. Broderick Hicks thought he'd be coming off the bench as
usual.
Neither was right.
|  | | Josh Shoemaker, center, blocks a shot by N.C. State's Clifford Crawford as Wake's Ervin Murray provides defensive help. |
The Demon Deacons (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, No. 16 AP) underwent a major shakeup to their
starting lineup right before tipoff, then needed both O'Kelley and
Hicks down the stretch in their 74-69 overtime win against North
Carolina State on Wednesday night.
"We went with a different lineup, I don't know why, I just
thought it was the right thing to do," Wake Forest coach Dave Odom
said. "Who knows what will happen from here."
After losing five of eight games, Odom decided to bench the
struggling backcourt tandem of O'Kelley and Ervin Murray, as well
as senior center Josh Shoemaker. It was the first time in 28 games
O'Kelley didn't start -- a streak dating to last Feb. 27 when he sat
down on Senior Night.
Starting in their places were guards Craig Dawson and Hicks, who
started the first 10 games this season for Wake (15-5, 4-4 ACC),
but came off the bench the next nine.
Rafael Vidaurreta also got his first start of the year at center
after starting all 36 games there last season.
The result was a faster, more aggressive team on the floor, even
if O'Kelley wasn't thrilled with the decision.
"You could say I was not happy at all," he said. "But Coach
wanted a little change and I'm behind my team 100 percent. It was
his decision, one that only he can make, and I've got to live with
it."
Like it or not, coming off the bench may have helped O'Kelley
find his shot again. He entered the game shooting 3-for-23 from
3-point range over the last five games, but hit three 3's before
halftime and led Wake in scoring with 14 points.
He acted as a perfect decoy on Hicks' game-tying 3-pointer, then
teamed with him for clutch free throw shooting in the extra period
that sealed Wake's 14th consecutive home victory.
"Robert O'Kelley came off the bench and gave us a really good
game," Odom said. "He shot the ball well, he shot it selectively
and played really good defense. And his leadership was
tremendous."
North Carolina State, which trailed 50-34 with 12:11 to play,
used a 25-9 run to tie the game with 1:33 to play.
The Wolfpack (10-9, 2-6) then took their first lead of the game
when Anthony Grundy made one of two free throws to put North
Carolina State up 60-59 with 49 seconds to play.
But Hicks and O'Kelley teamed to send the game into ovetime.
Thinking O'Kelley was going to take the shot, the Wolfpack put
two men on him. Hicks had the ball and faked a pass to O'Kelley as
the Wolfpack closed in on him.
That left Hicks alone to drill the 3-pointer with five seconds
to play and send the game into overtime.
"I wasn't intentionally trying to fake it to him, but I turned
around and both players were with him," said Hicks, who finished
with 11 points. "So I faked it and they kind of freaked, leaving
me wide open. Then I just let the shot go."
The Deacons dominated overtime, but a pair of 3-pointers by
freshman Trey Guidry kept the Wolfpack in it.
Wake went up 67-63 on Vidaurreta's two free throws, but Guidry's
first 3 cut it to 67-66 with 2:46 to play in the extra period.
O'Kelley scored on a driving layup and Hicks hit two free throws
to put Wake back up 71-66, but Guidry's second 3 cut it to 71-69
with 37 seconds to play.
O'Kelley then hit a free throw with 17 seconds to go to put the
Deacons up 72-69. Damien Wilkins missed a desperation 3 for North
Carolina State, Shoemaker got the rebound and Dawson hit a layup as
time expired.
"It's a difficult loss," North Carolina State coach Herb
Sendek said. "But it's good to be a part of guys who have as much
character and determination as our guys. I wouldn't trade that
experience for anything."
Guidry scored a career-high 15 to lead North Carolina State.
Wilkins and Crawford scored 14 each.
Josh Howard had 13 points and 13 rebounds for Wake. Darius
Songalia also scored 13.
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ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard
North Carolina State Clubhouse
Wake Forest Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Josh Howard follows up the O'Kelley miss with a monster jam.
avi: 590 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Wake's Broderick Hicks drains the 3-pointer to send the game to OT.
avi: 1538 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Robert O' Kelley knocks down the 3-ball for the Deacons.
avi: 797 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Trey Guidry with the nice wrap-around pass to Kenny Inge for the inside hoop.
avi: 894 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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