• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

After surviving a close contest, Wake Forest eyes 76 Classic finals

Nov 28, 2008 - 11:19 AM No. 24 Wake Forest (4-0) vs. UTEP (3-1) 3:30 p.m. EST

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Wake Forest managed to survive its first test.

Twenty-fourth-ranked Wake Forest looks to build momentum off a meaningful win when it hosts UTEP in the semifinals of the 76 Classic on Friday.

After forging three straight blowouts, the Demon Deacons struggled to put away Cal State-Fullerton during Thursday's opening-round matchup at this tournament.

Wake Forest led for a majority of the game, but Titans freshman guard Jacques Streeter buried back-to-back 3-pointers late in the second half and Marcio Lassiter followed with a layup to cut their deficit to 64-61 with just over three minutes remaining.

Two free throws by junior center Chas McFarland pushed Wake Forest's lead back to five. Josh Akognon buried an 18-footer to pull Fullerton within 66-63. That was as close as the Titans could get .

Jeff Teague led the Demon Deacons with 24 points on 9-of-17 shooting - including 4-of-7 from 3-point range - and Al-Farouq Aminu added 14.

Randy Culpepper had 20 points before fouling out to pace UTEP to a 75-62 victory against St. Mary's in its first-round contest on Thursday.

Senior guard Stefon Jackson had 17 points and 10 rebounds, Arnett Moultrie added 15 points and Kareem Cooper scored 12 for the Miners, who opened the second half on a 10-0 run and never looked back against St. Mary's.