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Seminoles Prove Point

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

TALLAHASSEE - A heart-to-heart team meeting prior to Friday's victory at Florida motivated Florida State to knock off the Gators. On Tuesday against Minnesota, proving their convincing win at Florida was no fluke inspired the Seminoles in a 75-61 victory.

"A lot of people called us a one-game wonder since we beat Florida," senior guard Ralph Mims said. "We wanted to overcome that."

Mims opened FSU's solid performance against the Gophers by doing a respectable job of singing the national anthem. He then started in place of Jason Rich and scored 13 points, grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and handed out three assists. Mims also had a career-high six steals.

"That's a very good night in anybody's book," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.

Facing the Gophers in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, FSU grabbed a quick 8-0 lead on a pair of 3-pointers by guard Isaiah Swann and a basket by Toney Douglas. Minnesota, winners in its first three games under first-year coach Tubby Smith, quickly came back to take a 22-18 lead on Jamal Abu-Shamala's lay-up with 11:54 left in the first half.

But with FSU's veteran backcourt of Mims, Douglas, Swann and Rich pressuring the Gophers into 12 first-half turnovers, FSU recovered to enter halftime with a 38-32 lead.

In the second half, the Noles' defensive pressure continued to cause Minnesota problems, including inside where center Spencer Tollackson, averaging a team-high 13.7 points, finished with only four points on 2-for-9 shooting. Sophomore Ryan Reid was primarily responsible for guarding the 6-foot-11, 270-pound Tollackson.

"When Reid wants to shut somebody down, he shuts them down," Swann said.

FSU won its 15th consecutive non-conference game at home. More importantly, it was the Noles' third consecutive win since losing back-to-back games against Cleveland State and USF. Swann said the meeting prior to the Florida game - coaches and players attended - was important mostly as a reminder of what the team's ultimate goal is.

"We're trying to change the culture," Swann said of a program that hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 1998.

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: FSU senior G Isaiah Swann scored 13 of his game-high 15 points in the first half, helping the Noles build a cushion.

STAT OF THE GAME: FSU shot 32 free throws - making 27 - while Minnesota finished six of 10 from the line.

TURNING POINT: After Minnesota went up 22-18 in the first half, the Noles scored seven consecutive points to take the lead for good.

UP NEXT: FSU hosts Stetson on Friday night at 7.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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