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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- The book on Josh Howard was all
drive, no shot.
Not anymore.
Howard hit four 3-pointers and scored 16 of his 24 points in the
first half as Wake Forest (No. 16 ESPN/USA Today, No. 19 AP) beat North Carolina 90-66
Wednesday night to sweep the season series for the first time in 32
years.
Howard shot 28 percent from 3-point range as a freshman two
years ago, but is 9-for-12 over the last three games and is
shooting 39 percent on the season. He was 4-for-6 against North
Carolina.
"He's become a better practice player and that's manifested
itself in games," Wake Forest coach Skip Prosser said. "He comes
early, stays late and so what was perceived to be a weakness of his
-- his 3-point shooting ability -- has become a strength. That's just
a testament to his work ethic."
Wake Forest (17-6, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) won its fourth
straight after losing three in a row -- all to Top Ten opponents --
and secured its 12th consecutive winning season. The Demon Deacons
beat North Carolina by a combined 46 points in the two games this
season.
North Carolina (6-14, 2-8) has lost 14 or more games in a season
just three other times -- 1950-51, '51-52 and '99-00 -- and can tie the
school record for losses in a season against Maryland on Sunday.
The Tar Heels have lost nine of 10.
Kris Lang led North Carolina with 14 points.
Wake Forest is off to its best ACC start since going 8-1 in
1996-97 and has its longest conference winning streak since taking
five straight that same year.
The Demon Deacons made their first five shots and nine of 12 to
open a 22-8 lead. They slipped up with turnovers on six of seven
possessions to allow North Carolina to pull within 24-15, but
followed with an 18-6 run. Craig Dawson capped the run with a layup
off a steal that put Wake Forest up 44-21 with 3:22 left.
Wake Forest led 54-31 at halftime after shooting 20-for-26 (76
percent), including 6-for-10 from 3-point range. Howard hit three
3-pointers and was 6-for-7 in the first half.
"When you get off to a fast start like that, it gets your
confidence going," Wake Forest's Craig Dawson said. "It's easy
for the guys on the bench to feed off it and keep the momentum
going."
North Carolina struggled from the opening tip -- Will Johnson was
called for a foul two seconds in -- and couldn't handle Wake
Forest's pressure defense.
The Tar Heels had 13 turnovers in the first half, including
seven in the first eight minutes, and went more than seven minutes
without a field goal midway through.
North Carolina finished with 24 turnovers, 15 by the guards.
Starting point guard Adam Boone had seven turnovers -- six in the
first half -- and nine points.
It got so bad that a fan yelled "It's now down to a
12-possession game!" after a Tar Heels' basket midway through the
second half.
"This is a difficult game to talk about," North Carolina coach
Matt Doherty said. "They were certainly sensational, but that was
due in large part to our defense. It was nonexistent in the first
half. It was just an awful performance."
Howard kept it going in the second half, scoring seven points in
the first 6½ minutes. His off-balance 3-pointer with 13:38 left
brought the crowd to its feet and put Wake Forest up 69-38.
Howard was 9-for-11 from the field and scored 44 points in two
games against North Carolina.
"Josh Howard is one of the best basketball players in the
country," Doherty said. "You used to have to play him as a
driver, but now you have to worry about his shot. He's done a good
job of stretching his game."
Wake Forest shot 60 percent overall.
Antwan Scott had 15 points and six rebounds for Wake Forest.
North Carolina's Brian Morrison had 14 points. | 
