Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament: For the ninth consecutive season, No. 1 Duke will appear in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game after the Blue Devils beat No. 12 Wake Forest 78-66. Duke got a career-high 18 points from freshman point guard Greg Paulus, who played a more significant scoring role with senior guard J.J. Redick slowed by a knee injury that he suffered in the first half while taking a charge. Wake Forest contended with Duke until late in the game, and the Demon Deacons led 36-34 at halftime. Duke will play No. 3 Boston College in the championship game Sunday.
Boston College beat No. 2 North Carolina 85-82 thanks largely to the dominant play of senior forward Craig Smith. He finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds, proving too much for Tar Heel freshman forward Tyler Hansbrough to handle. The Eagles shot better than 60 percent from the field and held off a late North Carolina run after building a 14-point lead in the second half.
[3/11/06]
