Howard Too Much for Georgia Tech

Josh Howard had his second big game of the week, scoring 30 points to lead No. 19 Wake Forest to a 73-66 victory over Georgia Tech in an Atlantic Coast Conference game Sunday night at Winston-Salem, N.C.

“He made a pretty strong statement about being among the best, if not the best player in the ACC,” said Georgia Tech Coach Paul Hewitt.

Howard, a senior who scored 23 points in Wednesday night’s win over No. 17 Maryland, opened the game with a pair of three-pointers and made big shots when needed to guide the Demon Deacons (12-1, 2-1 ACC) to their 11th consecutive home win.

Howard finished one point shy of his career high of 31, set earlier this season at Wisconsin.

“I know I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in the ACC,” Wake Forest Coach Skip Prosser said. “He possesses an iron will and will not lose. I’m glad I get to coach him.”

Chris Bosch led Georgia Tech with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

The Yellow Jackets (8-6, 2-2) lost their fifth in a row at Lawrence Joel Coliseum, where they are 5-15 and haven’t won since 1998.

It wasn’t an easy win for Wake Forest, though.

The Demon Deacons, who started three sophomores and a freshman, made several little mistakes that caused Prosser to kick the scoring table twice and punch the side of it four times.

But Wake Forest played excellent defense on Georgia Tech guard Marvin Lewis, the Yellow Jackets’ leading scorer, who was coming off a career-high 33 points in Tuesday night’s victory over Florida State.

The Demon Deacons held Lewis to seven points and limited his looks at the basket -- he attempted only seven shots.

Gonzaga 66, San Francisco 56 -- The Bulldogs used a 15-2 run late in the second half at San Francisco to take a 59-52 lead as they extended their winning streak to five games.

Kyle Bankhead scored 23 points to lead Gonzaga (13-5, 4-0 in West Coast Conference). John Cox led the Dons (6-10, 1-2) with 18 points.