Thursday, November 22, 2001
Prosser, Wake Forest make NIT semifinals
The Associated Press
NEW YORK — Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian kept shaking his head back and forth and repeating the same thing.
“Oh, my God! Oh, my God!”
Tarkanian had just watched the No. 23 Bulldogs wipe out a 16-point deficit against Wake Forest on Wednesday night, take the lead and then let the game get away in the final seconds as the Demon Deacons won their Preseason NIT semifinal 62-61.
Darius Songaila put back a missed shot with 1.7 seconds left for the victory, causing more aggravation for Tarkanian.
“They missed the easy shot and got the tip-in,” he said, still shaking his head. “I just hope we don't play like that again.”
The victory put Wake Forest (4-0) in Friday's championship game against No. 18 Syracuse, which defeated No. 13 Michigan State 69-58 in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader. Fresno State plays Michigan State in the consolation game.
“Playing Syracuse will be difficult,” coach Skip Prosser said. “But it beats not playing them.”
Prosser said Wake Forest let the lead get away because of what he called “a plethora of breakdowns defensively.” Fresno seemed to take advantage of all of them.
“Fresno played hard and well to come back and take the lead,” he said. “We didn't play well in the second half.”
Wake Forest used a flurry of 3-point baskets, including four by Craig Dawson in the first half, to open the 16-point lead. Dawson, who made 11 of 22 shots from behind the arc in Wake's first three games, kept up the hot hand against Fresno. He hit two long-range shots in the first five minutes and finished with 12 points.
Meanwhile, Fresno (2-1) missed all but one of 11 3-point attempts in the first half and fell behind 41-30. The Bulldogs were 3-for-21 for the game from behind the arc.
But Fresno came back using some stubborn defense and hot shooting by Chris Jefferies and Melvin Ely to overtake Wake Forest. Travis DeManby's second 3-pointer gave Fresno a 56-53 lead.
Wake Forest came right back, using a pair of baskets by Antwan Scott and a 3-pointer by Broderick Hicks to move back in front at 60-57.
Baskets by Noel Felix and Ely gave Fresno the lead again and Wake Forest twice missed opportunities to regain the lead.
Then Felix missed a pair of foul shots, giving Wake Forest one last chance with 10.2 seconds to play. Hicks missed a shot but Songaila put the rebound in for the victory.
Scott and Hicks led Wake Forest with 14 points apiece. Ely had 16 points and 12 rebounds to pace Fresno State.
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Prosser, Wake Forest make NIT semifinals