Deacons harass Booker low in bruising defeat

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sunday night, Trevor Booker joined another exclusive club, but it seemed like little consolation in the wake of Clemson’s 70-65 loss at Wake Forest.

Clemson’s versatile senior forward needed six points to pass Horace Grant (a former ACC Player of the Year and All-America) for fifth place on Clemson’s all-time scoring list with 1,697 points, becoming one of eight ACC players ever to rank in the top five in both scoring and rebounding in their school’s history in the process.

He reached the mark, but barely; Wake Forest held Booker to one of his worst games of the season, with six points on 2-of-8 shooting. He also sustained a cut over his right eye, leaving the game with two minutes left and returning with a large bandage.

Center Chas McFarland was constantly draped on Booker low, challenging every shot and post move.

Regardless, Booker found some impressive company in his new club. The others in ACC history with that distinction are Duke’s Mike Gminski (who called the game for Fox Sports Net Sunday), Duke’s Christian Laettner, North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Sam Perkins, Georgia Tech’s Matt Harpring and Virginia’s Ralph Sampson and Bryant Stith.

SENIOR NIGHT

Wake Forest said goodbye to six seniors Sunday night — center Chas McFarland, guard Ishmael Smith, center David Weaver, forward L.D. Williams and walk-ons Phaethon Bolton and Kyle Fowler. Smith is one of the top guards in Wake Forest history; he entered the game second on the school’s all-time assist list behind longtime NBA player Muggsy Bogues.

Clemson entered play 14-37 all-time on opponents senior nights, although the Tigers ruined senior night for ACC foes in three of the last four years, winning at Virginia Tech in 2006 and 2007 and Maryland in 2008.

It was the second straight season Clemson served as the Demon Deacons’ senior night foe — Wake won 96-88 in 2009.

SMITH OK

Sophomore guard Tanner Smith shook off an ankle sprain and stayed in the starting lineup Sunday night. Smith missed the second half of Tuesday’s win over Georgia Tech after spraining the ankle in a fall near the Yellow Jackets’ basket. He has started all 30 games this season, averaging 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per game entering Sunday.

GREAT SUCCESS

When Clemson beat Georgia Tech Tuesday, it clinched the Tigers’ third straight winning season in ACC play. Remarkably, that’s the first time in school history that the feat has been accomplished. Clemson is also a lock for its third straight NCAA tournament berth when the field of 65 is announced Sunday.

When it happens, that will tie the program’s longest NCAA streak. Rick Barnes led Clemson to three straight NCAA bids from 1996-98.

This is also Clemson’s fourth straight 20-win season, which is a first in school history. Purnell is one of seven active Division I coaches to take four schools to 20-win seasons, also accomplishing the feat at Radford, Old Dominion and Dayton.

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