Wake Forest's Chris Paul

Nov. 24, 2004

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Top-ranked Wake Forest takes on Providence for the first time when they meet Wednesday in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT at Madison Square Garden.

The winner faces Arizona or Michigan in Friday's championship game.

Ranked No. 1 for the first time in school history, the Demon Deacons (3-0) crushed Yale, 99-72, on Monday. Chris Paul, Eric Williams and Kyle Visser scored 15 points apiece for Wake Forest, which scored 58 first-half points against the Bulldogs.

The Demon Deacons, who are averaging 92 points and shooting 53 percent in their three victories, defeated George Washington and Virginia Commonwealth to advance to the semifinals.

Skip Prosser will coach his 100th game for Wake Forest. His record is 70-29.

The Friars (3-0) beat Niagara and Penn in the opening rounds of the tournament before topping St. Thomas Aquinas, 79-48, on Saturday.

Ryan Gomes is averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Friars, who beat Michigan on December 29, 1976, for their only victory over the nation's top-ranked team in nine tries.

Providence, which can pick up its 1,200th victory by beating Wake Forest, is looking for its first 4-0 start in 10 years.