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Singleton Lifts FSU To 82-69 Win

By STEVEN WINE

The Associated Press

Published: December 29, 2008

SUNRISE - Chris Singleton was held out of Florida State's starting lineup for the first time Sunday, and he liked coming off the bench just fine.

The 6-foot-9 freshman forward scored a season-high 18 points and sparked a decisive spurt in the second half that helped the Seminoles beat Western Kentucky 82-69 in the Orange Bowl Classic.

After shooting 1-for-9 in a loss to Pittsburgh a week earlier, Singleton found himself in a reserve role. At one point during the game, he went 3-for-5 from 3-point range, grabbed six rebounds, blocked three shots and made two steals in 29 minutes.

"I love coming off the bench," he said. "I'll do it every game."

"I'm not sure he'll be doing much of that," Coach Leonard Hamilton said.

Toney Douglas scored 27 points for Florida State, which trailed by five points in the second half before breaking the game open with a 20-3 run.

The Seminoles (12-2) remained unbeaten in their seven meetings against Western Kentucky. This is the earliest the Seminoles have ever reached a dozen victories.

"I would love to be ranked," Singleton said. "We'll keep battling until we are. We will be ranked this year."

As the game slipped away, Coach Ken McDonald received two technical fouls and was ejected with 4:29 left.

"A communication error on my part with the official," McDonald said. "I let the moment get to me. It's not something I'm proud of."

Orlando Mendez-Valdez led Western Kentucky (7-4) with 25 points.

Singleton put on a one-man show during a sequence that gave the Seminoles the lead for good. In a span of 18 seconds he scored on a follow, blocked a shot and sank a 3-pointer to put FSU up 53-51.

W. KENTUCKY (7-4) - Kerusch 2-10 3-4 8, Pettigrew 2-8 4-6 9, Evans 3-7 0-0 6, Slaughter 5-16 2-3 14, Mendez-Valdez 9-12 0-0 25, Sally 1-3 2-2 5, Cvoro 0-0 0-0 0, Walker 0-0 0-0 0, Magley 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 23-58 11-15 69.

FLORIDA ST. (12-2) - DeMercy 0-2 0-0 0, Reid 5-7 1-2 11, Alabi 1-2 0-0 2, Loucks 1-3 0-0 3, Douglas 8-16 8-11 27, Dulkys 2-6 2-2 8, Kitchen 4-6 2-2 11, Singleton 6-13 3-4 18, Echefu 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 28-61 16-21 82.

Halftime - Florida St. 37-34. 3-Point Goals - W. Kentucky 12-28 (Mendez-Valdez 7-9, Slaughter 2-10, Sally 1-1, Kerusch 1-4, Pettigrew 1-4), Florida St. 10-25 (Singleton 3-5, Douglas 3-7, Dulkys 2-6, Loucks 1-2, Kitchen 1-2, DeMercy 0-1, Echefu 0-2). Fouled Out - None. Rebounds - W. Kentucky 38 (Kerusch, Mendez-Valdez 7), Florida St. 35 (DeMercy, Singleton 6). Assists - W. Kentucky 6 (Mendez-Valdez 3), Florida St. 19 (Douglas, Loucks 5). Total Fouls - W. Kentucky 15, Florida St. 14. Technicals - W. Kentucky Bench 2. A - NA.