Wake Forest guard Chris Paul (3) drives the ball against Chattanooga forward Chris Brown (44) during the second half Thursday, March 17, 2005, in Cleveland in the first round of NCAA tournament. Paul scored 20 points in Wake's 70-54 win. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Chris Paul didn't do anything he'd regret. He doesn't want to spend another second watching this March.

Wake Forest's star guard returned from a one-game suspension and the second-seeded Demon Deacons shook off a horrible first half for a 70-54 win over Chattanooga in the NCAA tournament on Thursday night.

Paul scored 20 points and added six rebounds and five assists to pace Wake Forest (27-5), which didn't play like one of the pre-tourney favorites until midway through the second half.

The Demon Deacons struggled with the Mocs (20-11), who threatened to become just the fifth No. 15 seed to win a first-round game since the tournament expanded in 1985.

Paul made sure that didn't happen, though, making several big plays in a game-closing 32-16 run as Wake Forest advanced in the Albuquerque Regional to play in Saturday's second round against the winner of the game between West Virginia (21-10) and Creighton (23-10).

The sophomore was back on the floor for the first time since March 6, when he punched North Carolina State's Julius Hodge in the groin during the final regular-season game. The low blow resulted in a one-game suspension for Paul, who spent the opening round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament on Wake's bench in a gold three-piece suit.

The Demon Deacons lost without him, a defeat that probably cost them a No. 1 seed in the NCAAs.

But back in his white No. 3 jersey, Paul dominated in the second half. When Wake needed a steal or basket, he got one. And when the Demon Deacons needed to settle down, Paul took control. After making 10 turnovers in the first half, they had five in the second half.

Chris Brown scored 14 points and Alphonso Pugh 13 for Chattanooga, which doomed itself with 22 turnovers.

But for nearly 30 minutes, the Southern Conference champions were equal to their ACC opponent.

The Mocs led 38-35 when Paul hit a 3-pointer, and Wake Forest started to do its damage from long range. Trent Strickland hit a 3-pointer and Taron Downey made a pair of 3s on consecutive trips as the Demon Deacons went up 53-45 with 9:29 to go.

Wake Forest kept pouring it on but getting their school record 27th win wasn't as easy as many imagined.

The first half was ragged, and that's being polite, as the teams combined for more turnovers (22) than field goals (20).

Wake Forest center Eric Williams (31) gets fouled by Chattanooga's Mindaugas Katelynas (15) in the second half Thursday, March 17, 2005, in Cleveland during their NCAA tournament first-round game. Wake Forest won 70-54. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

Back in the tournament for the first time since 1997, the Mocs weren't intimidated by Wake Forest's reputation, record or ranking, charging to a 23-12 lead in the first half on Brown's 3-pointer.

As the ball dropped through the net, Chattanooga's cheering section let out a roar while others in the Wolstein Center exchanged incredulous looks.

But what was happening was very real, and it took a 9-4 run, capped by Paul's 3-pointer -- only Wake's second in 15 tries -- in the final second to pull the Demon Deacons within 27-24 at the break.

Everything Paul did was a little off timing-wise. His balletic spins and ankle-breaking crossover dribble didn't shake Chattanooga defenders. And whenever it seemed the Demon Deacons or their star were about to take off, the Mocs answered.

But in the second half, Paul looked more like himself and so did his teammates.

In the closing seconds, Paul was back on the bench, but this time he was smiling as he pulled on his warmup.