College basketball

Star guard pulls Duke out of funk

By wire services
Published February 21, 2005

DURHAM, N.C. - Coach Mike Krzyzewski did what he could to help Duke avoid its first three-game losing streak in nine years. All he really needed was a career performance from J.J. Redick.

The junior guard scored a career-high 38 after Coach K shook up the starting lineup, and reserve Lee Melchionni added 15 to lead the seventh-ranked Blue Devils past No.5 Wake Forest 102-92 Sunday night.

Duke, coming off consecutive losses for the fourth time in the past eight seasons, had its way with the Demon Deacons in the second half. After trailing by two at the break, the Blue Devils shot 61 percent to reach their most points this season.

Chris Paul had 27 points and Trent Strickland 17 for Wake Forest, which fell out of a first-place tie in the ACC with North Carolina.

Duke center Shelden Williams more than held his own in the matchup with Eric Williams, finishing with 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. And Melchionni, a junior who played very little during his first two seasons, came up with big play after big play.

He went in averaging 6.8 points but beat that total during a 90-second span of the second half. The left-hander converted a 3-pointer for a five-point lead, jumped in the passing lane for a steal that led to his own dunk, then spun in the paint for a short jumper.

On the other end, he drew a charge from guard Justin Gray, who went to the bench with his fourth foul with 141/2 minutes left. Duke went ahead 88-69 before the Deacons staged a furious rally to make the final respectable, getting within seven with 1:15 left.

C-USA

NO.12 LOUISVILLE 84, SAINT LOUIS 66: Taquan Dean hit five 3-pointers for 15 points, and the host Cardinals put together their best offensive performance in weeks. Larry O'Bannon scored 17 and Francisco Garcia 13, and Ellis Myles had 13 points and 18 rebounds for Louisville, which had its most points since a 105-69 win over Tulane on Jan.29.

MARQUETTE 67, DePAUL 57: Steve Novak scored 22 and the host Golden Eagles damaged the Blue Demons' conference title hopes. Drake Diener scored 16 for DePaul, which is two behind Louisville and Charlotte with four games left.

Top 25

NO.10 ARIZONA 91, OREGON ST. 70: Salim Stoudamire sank a school-record nine 3-pointers and scored 31 in his final home game, and the Wildcats won their sixth in a row and stayed alone in first place in the Pac-10.

NO.25 VILLANOVA 80, NO.17 PITT 72: Allan Ray hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 of his 23 in the second half to lift the host Wildcats to their eighth win in 10 games.

State

TROY 80, STETSON 72: Bobby Dixon and Jacob Hazouri scored 20 each as the host Trojans dropped the Hatters into 10th in the Atlantic Sun, a game behind three teams battling for the final spot in next month's conference tournament.

Nation

ST. JOHN'S 76, GEORGETOWN 67: Daryll Hill scored 20 and the host Red Storm rode a strong first half to deal a severe blow to the Hoyas' NCAA Tournament hopes.

W.VA. 96, SETON HALL 86: Tyrone Sally tied a career high with 25 points for the host Mountaineers, who had their most points in two seasons.

INDIANA 70, MICHIGAN 63: Robert Vaden had a career-high 18 points and the visiting Hoosiers scored eight straight in the closing minutes.

Michigan suspended point guard Daniel Horton for the rest of the season nearly a week after he pleaded guilty to domestic violence for choking his girlfriend. ... The Wolverines retired Glen Rice's No.41 jersey at halftime.

STANFORD 78, UCLA 65: Chris Hernandez scored eight of his career-high 37 in the final 31/2 minutes, carrying the Cardinal to its sixth straight win over the Bruins.

[Last modified February 21, 2005, 01:33:09]