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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Craig Dawson matched his season high with
17 points and Robert O'Kelley scored three key baskets over the
final 3:56 as Wake Forest beat North Carolina 58-52 in the
quarterfinals of the ACC tournament Friday.
The fifth-seeded Demon Deacons (17-13) broke a three-year
tournament losing streak and advanced to the semifinals to play
top-seeded Duke on Saturday, winning their third straight game for
the first time since December.
Meanwhile, North Carolina's 29-year streak of winning at least
20 games is now in jeopardy as the Tar Heels fell to 18-13. The 13
losses are North Carolina's most since it went 21-13 in the 1989-90
season.
North Carolina trailed by as many as nine early in the second
half, but battled back and Joseph Forte's 3-pointer -- the only one
of the game for the Tar Heels -- tied it at 52-52 with 2:46 left.
But O'Kelley, in a slump most of the second half of the season,
scored on a bank shot in the lane and added a driving layup past
Forte to give the Demon Deacons a four-point lead.
Twice in the final 1:07 Wake Forest turned the ball over, but
North Carolina's couldn't capitalize, missing a 3-pointer and then
turning it back over on a walking call.
Dawson iced it with a pair of free throws with 22.7 seconds left
as North Carolina was bounced in the ACC quarterfinals for the
first time since 1996.
Jason Capel led the Tar Heels, who shot 37.5 percent, with 14
points.
O'Kelley finished with nine -- all in the second half.
Neither team led by more than five points in a close first half
before the Demon Deacons closed with a 10-1 run over the final
3:42. Darius Songaila had a turnaround jumper, a pair of free
throws and a layup to spark the spurt as Wake Forest grabbed a
31-24 halftime lead.
The Tar Heels had trouble setting up their offense in the
opening 20 minutes as Wake Forest's defense forced things outside.
In fact, North Carolina's 7-foot center Brendan Haywood didn't
touch the ball on offense until there was 10:11 left in the half.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Wake Forest Clubhouse
North Carolina Clubhouse
Inside the Locker Room: Darius Songaila
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