By Staff and Wire Reports
Published November 16, 2004
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Chris Paul had 25 points and six assists to lift No.2 Wake Forest past George Washington 97-76 in the first round of the Preseason NIT. The Demon Deacons host Virginia Commonwealth, an 82-76 overtime winner over American, on Thursday.
Down 14 early in the second half, the Colonials, who made eight 3-pointers, closed to 75-70 on one by Carl Elliott. But Paul led a 10-2 run that sealed it.
Paul drove the length of the court and hit a double-pump layup. He made two free throws, then corralled a loose ball in the backcourt and found Eric Williams alone for a dunk and a 85-72 lead with 4:42 left.
AIR FORCE 60, OLE MISS 36: Matt McCraw had a three-point play and Nick Welch a 3-pointer during a run early in the second half for the Falcons in the semifinals of the Black Coaches Association Classic in Milwaukee.
ECKERD 73, PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ 61: The host Tritos opened the game with a 14-4 run and cruised. Matt Cenatus led Eckerd with 14 points.
USF loses another
TAMPA - Maurice Mobley, a junior forward expected to be a key reserve for USF, quit to focus on academics, coach Robert McCullum said.
The 6-foot-5 forward from El Paso, Texas, who did not return calls, signed in the spring out of Parkland (Ill.). His exit was announced four days after senior guard Bradley Mosley was diagnosed with kidney cancer, ending his season.
Freshmen guards Montavious Waters and Collin Dennis, who missed Friday's preseason game against Saint Leo, could play in Saturday's opener against Stephen F. Austin. Waters (knee) practiced Monday while Dennis (hip flexor) watched.
EAST CAROLINA: Senior center Moussa Badiane is ineligible for Wednesday's opener against Pepperdine because he played in a summer league not certified by the NCAA. The Capitol Park league in Raleigh, N.C., included guard Raymond Felton, who previously was ruled ineligible for North Carolina's opener. Badiane has 239 blocked shots, 53 behind the C-USA record.
ILLINOIS: Coach Bruce Weber had an appendectomy but is expected to return for Friday's opener against Delaware State.
BIG EAST: The conference will not split into divisions when it expands to 16 teams, including USF, next season, and only 12 will qualify for the postseason tournament. Men's teams will play 13 opponents once and three twice. Rematches will be based on television, rivalries and geography.
TOURNAMENTS: Promoters failed to overturn an NCAA rule limiting teams to two preseason tournaments in four seasons when an appeals court rejected their antitrust suit. In 2003, promoters representing the Las Vegas Classic, San Juan Shootout, Coaches vs. Cancer event and NABC Coaches Classic successfully argued the rule prevented them from inviting teams to tournaments. But the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Cincinnati, ruled the promoters failed to define a market in which the rule could be anticompetitive.
WOMEN: Penn State coach Rene Portland was hospitalized late Sunday after fainting. Her condition was not disclosed, but she is expected to coach Friday against Duke. ... Freshman Ryan Trettevik scored 12 for host Eckerd in a 56-46 season-opening win over Puerto Rico-Mayaguez.
-- Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.
