TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Douglas Lifts Seminoles

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRISTOPHER STOCK, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 7, 2008

CORAL GABLES - Toney Douglas scored a season-high 28 points to lead Florida State past Miami 62-55 on Tuesday night, stopping a three-game losing streak.

Douglas made nine of 14 field goals including five of nine from behind the 3-point line as he scored 14 points in each half.

Miami pulled within five at 55-50 with 55 seconds left, but Douglas kept the Hurricanes within striking distance as he knocked down three consecutive free throws. After two quick baskets by Miami, the Seminoles' lead was cut to three with 34 seconds left.

Reserve guard Ralph Mims stepped up to the free-throw line without a point to his credit at the time and knocked down two clutch free throws as Florida State held on for the victory.

FSU (14-10, 3-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) held Miami to a season-low 31 percent (17 of 55) shooting and never let UM's top scorer Jack McClinton get into any kind of groove as he made just four of 15 from the floor for 16 points.

"I thought our players really showed them respect and came out playing with a tremendous defensive focus," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. "We realized that James Dews and McClinton were knock-down shooters."

"Our defense stepped it up," Douglas said. "We did a good job on McClinton and we didn't let anybody else go off. Our main focus was rebounding because they are a good rebounding team. It was a big win for us."

FSU led 30-25 at halftime, but stretched the lead in the second half as it went on an 11-0 run.

"We played smart during the run," Douglas said. "We didn't have any turnovers and made good decisions, milked the clock down and we got what we wanted."

Douglas rebounded with a big performance after a 3-for-20 effort in a loss to North Carolina in FSU's last game.

"I had never had a game like that," he said.

Jason Rich scored 14 points and Uche Echefu chipped in 10 for the Seminoles.

Miami (15-7, 2-6) has now lost six of its last seven games.

"I thought it was a really tough loss," Miami coach Frank Haith said. "You lose a home game when we needed a win."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT