Nov. 5, 2008

Box Score 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 21-ranked Wake Forest is set to host NCAA Division II foe Mount Olive in an exhibition game that will serve as the Demon Deacons' final tune-up for the regular season. The Deacons and Trojans will tip-off at 7 p.m. at Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

Thursday's contest will be Wake's first and only recognized exhibition of the preseason. The Deacons played their annual Black & Gold intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 25 and then played at South Carolina in a closed scrimmage on Nov. 1.

Wake Forest opens the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14, against North Carolina Central. The Deacons will play host in their first three contests of the season before heading out West to compete in the 76 Classic in Anaheim, Calif., over the Thanksgiving holiday week.

The Deacons return 11 letterwinners, including all five starters and each of their top nine scorers, from last season's squad that finished 17-13 overall and 7-9 in the ACC.

Mount Olive will also be playing its only preseason exhibition on Thursday. The Trojans open their regular season on Nov. 15 against Lenoir-Rhyne in the Catawba College Classic in Salisbury, N.C.

Ranked No. 21 in the Division II NABC Preseason Poll, Mount Olive finished the 2007-08 campaign 24-7 overall, winning the Conference Carolinas regular season and tournament.

Quickie Notes
- The Deacons are ranked in the preseason polls for the first time since 2005. Wake is No. 21 in the AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. - Wake Forest was picked to finish third in the ACC in voting by the media at ACC Operation Basketball on Oct. 26 in Atlanta. - Freshman forward Al-Farouq Aminu was tabbed as the Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year.

Next Up...
Wake Forest will open the regular season on Friday, Nov. 14, against North Carolina Central at Joel Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The Deacs will then host UNC Wilmington on Nov. 19 and Winston-Salem State on Nov. 24.