Nov. 26, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - No. 19-ranked Wake Forest is set to open play out west in the 76 Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The Demon Deacons will open the eight-team tournament against Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Nov. 27, at 4:30 p.m. ET. The game will be televised by ESPN2 and is also available on the Wake Forest ISP Radio Network.

Playing their first games away from Joel Coliseum, the Deacons will face a tough field at the 76 Classic. UTEP and St. Mary's, who is listed just outside of the top 25, are in Wake Forest's four-team pod. The other side of the bracket includes No. 14 Arizona State, Baylor, Charlotte and Providence.

The Deacons (3-0) are coming off a 62-31 defeat of city-rival Winston-Salem State on Monday at the Joel. Wake held the Rams to just 14 points in the first half and 31 on the night, marking the lowest Deacon opponent total since 1947-48.

Cal State Fullerton (2-2) enters the tournament following a 76-75 loss at Portland State on Sunday. The Titans, whose campus is just nine miles from the Anaheim Convention Center, will be the first-ever Big West Conference team the Deacons have faced. CSF is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance a year ago.

Quickie Notes
- Wake Forest has started the season 3-0 for the third straight year and the ninth time in the past 10 seasons. The Deacs have started 4-0 for each of the past two seasons and eight of the last nine years.
- The Deacs have not played a game in the state of California since the 2002 NCAA Tournament in Sacramento. Wake beat Pepperdine in the first round before falling to No. 11 Oregon in the round of 32.

Next Up...
Wake Forest will face either St. Mary's or UTEP on Friday, Nov. 28. If the Deacons defeat Fullerton, Wake would play at 3:30 p.m. ET in the semifinals. If Wake falls to the Titans, the Deacs would play at 5:30 p.m. ET in the consolation bracket. The championship game and final consolation contests are scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 30.