Nov. 4, 2009

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest is set to host NCAA Division II foe IUP in an exhibition game that will serve as the Demon Deacons' final tune-up for the regular season. The Deacons and Crimson Hawks will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Joel Coliseum.

Wake Forest has a double-dip of games on tap for the season-opening weekend. The Deacons will host Oral Roberts on Friday, Nov. 13, in the opener and then travel to the Greensboro Coliseum for a road game against East Carolina on Sunday, Nov. 15.

Wake Forest returns nine letterwinners, including three starters, from last season's squad that finished 24-7 overall and 11-5 in the ACC. The Deacons were picked to finish sixth in the conference this season in a vote of the media members attending ACC Operation Basketball last month in Greensboro.

IUP looks to be formidable exhibition opponent, as the Crimson Hawks are ranked No. 6 in the nation in NCAA Division II according to The Sporting News. IUP was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in a ballot of the league's head coaches. The Crimson Hawks went 22-8 last season and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

IUP is making a preseason tour of the ACC this week. The Crimson Hawks played an exhibition contest at Maryland on Tuesday and, after facing the Deacons on Thursday, will play another exhibition game at Georgia Tech on Sunday. Maryland downed IUP, 75-54.

Wake Forest in Exhibition Play

Wake Forest has gone 11-2 in exhibition play since the current coaching staff arrived in Winston-Salem prior to the 2001-02 season. The Deacons have won each of their past seven exhibition contests, including last season's 97-62 defeat of Mount Olive.

The last time Wake suffered defeat in the preseason came in 2003 when Athletes in Action pulled out a miraculous win at the Joel. Then-freshman Chris Paul converted a three-point play on a fastbreak with two seconds to play, giving Wake a 75-74 advantage. However, AIA's Donte Quinine hit a 30-footer as the buzzer sounded to send the visitors to victory.

Date, Opponent, Result
Nov. 6, 2008, Mount Olive, W 97-62
Nov. 5, 2007, Mars Hill, W 104-70
Nov. 7, 2006, North Carolina Central, W 68-60
Nov. 5, 2005, Mars Hill, W 96-63
Nov. 3, 2005, Winston-Salem State, W 88-84
Nov. 11, 2004, Winston-Salem State, W 89-61
Nov. 4, 2004, USC Upstate, W 103-57
Nov. 8, 2003, Athletes In Action, L 77-75
Nov. 3, 2003, EA Sports All-Stars, W 100-80
Nov. 18, 2002, EA Sports All-Stars, L 80-75
Nov. 14, 2002, Gulbene Buki (Latvia), W 90-55
Nov. 7, 2001, Gulbene Buki (Latvia), W 117-64
Nov. 2, 2001, Nike Elite All-Stars, W 108-65