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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Wake Forest used its best offensive showing in 10 years to spoil an emotional season opener for the man in the bow tie. Jim Phelan's 47th season at Mount St. Mary's got off to a disastrous start as the Mountaineers were blown out by the 18th-ranked Demon Deacons, 108-61, in the first round of the BCA Classic. Wake Forest, which shot a sizzling 70 percent (42-of-60) from the field, matched its highest output since defeating Howard, 108-74, in the 1990-91 season opener. The 47-point margin of the victory was the largest for the Demon Deacons since they crushed SUNY-Buffalo, 121-56, during the 1982-83 season. Wake Forest set a Joel Coliseum record for winning margin, surpassing a 44-point victory over High Point last season. Fourth on the all-time wins list with 809, Phelan has vowed to continue coaching despite revealing last month that he is undergoing radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Phelan led Mount St. Mary's to its only two NCAA Tournanment appearances in 1995 and 1999, but the Mountaineers have fallen on hard times. They went 9-20 last season and tonight were no match for Wake Forest (1-0), the defending National Invitation Tournament champions who showed it could be a force in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Antwan Scott scored 20 points off the bench to pace a balanced attack for the Demon Deacons, who abandoned their usual deliberate style, scoring 54 points in each half. Wake Forest shot 66 percent (21-of-32) in the first half and actually improved in the second, when it made 21-of-28 shots. Craig Dawson scored 18 points, also off the bench, while Josh Howard and Robert O'Kelley added 17 apiece. Wake Forest had its way inside, outscoring Mount St. Mary's 50-20 in the paint. The Mountaineers shot just 35 percent (22-of-63) and committed 20 turnovers that the Demon Deacons converted into 31 points. Jerry Lloyd scored 16 and Stephen Moore 11 for Mount St. Mary's (0-1), which never led. Wake Forest made 12 of its first 14 shots, racing to a 27-12 lead 8 1/2 minutes in. After a basket by Angel Rivera got Mount St. Mary's within 27-14, the Demon Deacons reeled off nine straight points, building a 35-14 cushion on Scott's two foul shots with 7:07 to play. Wake Forest opened a 52-23 lead at the break. The Demon Deacons will face Air Force in the championship game on Friday, while Mount St. Mary's battles Houston in the consolation contest.
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