Colleges

Wake's new star conquers 'Noles

Freshman James Johnson explodes in the second half to rally the Deacons.

By KEVIN BRAFFORD, Times Correspondent
Published January 21, 2008

Wake Forest freshman James Johnson celebrates with fans after their 74-57 win over Florida State. After a first half plagued with foul trouble, Johnson shot 8 for-12 with four 3-pointers and a career-high 26 points.
	[AP photo]

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - He hasn't gotten the buzz along Tobacco Road accorded Duke's Kyle Singler or North Carolina State's J.J. Hickson, but James Johnson, as freshmen go, is awfully good.

Florida State witnessed that first-hand Sunday as the smooth Wake Forest forward exploded for 21 second-half points to help the Demon Deacons blow past the Seminoles, 74-57.

FSU lost its third straight game and dropped to 12-7 overall, 1-3 in the ACC. Wake Forest, a preseason pick as a league cellar dweller, snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 12-5, 2-2.

"We did not play with the type of intensity that we've been playing with," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said after getting outscored 48-26 in the second half. "It seemed as though they (his players) were spent. It's the first time they've had that look in their eyes."

The biggest difference was Johnson, a 6-foot-8, 235-pounder who came in averaging 14.4 points and 8.5 rebounds, the latter tops among ACC freshmen.

He picked up two early fouls and logged just 11 first-half minutes, totaling five points and five rebounds. In the second half he shot 8-of-12, including 4-of-5 on 3-pointers, to finish with a career-best 26 points.

"He's a tremendous competitor," Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio said. "He's tough to guard when he's making that 3."

The game was a tale of two halves. FSU built a 15-8 lead in the first nine minutes and eventually stretched its advantage to 23-14 on an Uche Echefu 3-pointer with 6:57 left in the half.

But FSU was scoreless for the next 4 minutes, 40 seconds, when Wake Forest tied it.

"We got good shots, but the ones that had been going in just didn't go in," senior Jason Rich said. "Give credit to them for stepping up their defense."

Trailing 31-28, Wake Forest opened the second half with a 13-1 run, keyed by five from Johnson.

FSU twice got within two, but the Demon Deacons pulled away, shooting 53 percent in the second half.

Ralph Mims led FSU with 17 points. Echefu added 13, all in the first half, and 11 rebounds. But Rich, Toney Douglas (who didn't start for an "unspecified team reason") and Isaiah Swann combined to shoot just 9-of-32.

"They're long and they're quick," Rich said of the Demon Deacons. "They did a good job of getting their hands in the passing lanes and not let us do what we wanted to do."

FSU's next two games are at home, Wednesday at 7 p.m. against Virginia and Saturday at 1:30 p.m. against N.C. State.

Wake Forest 74

FSU 57

[Last modified January 20, 2008, 20:48:16]