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Noles' Slide Continues In Loss To Demon Deacons

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By SCOTT CARTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 15, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - On his first day on the job, new Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman drew a healthy ovation Thursday night when he was introduced at midcourt early in FSU's game against Wake Forest.

Spetman then did something many in the crowd of 7,078 at the Donald L. Tucker Center didn't do: He stayed until the end of FSU's 78-70 loss to the Demon Deacons, the Noles' seventh loss in their last nine games and matching their regular-season losses from a year ago - with six games remaining.

In one of their most lackluster performances of the season, FSU (14-11, 3-7 ACC) couldn't hit a shot in the first half, falling behind by as many as 21 points on the way to a 42-26 halftime deficit. With NBA rookie Al Thornton, the star of last year's team, in the stands, the Noles looked like a team that still needed Thornton to have any chance at making the NIT, much less snapping a decade-long streak of missing the NCAA Tournament.

"Just saying we are disappointed would obviously be an understatement," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. "It almost appeared like we were stepping in mud. To add to the disappointment, we realized this was a very, very important game, one that was going to have a lot to do with any mathematical chances we'll have for postseason play."Near the end of the first half, the Noles lost forward Ryan Reid, who was ejected for a flagrant foul on Wake Forest center Chas McFarland with 47.3 seconds left in the half. Reid's loss robbed FSU of one of its top post defenders, helping McFarland finish with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

FSU began to heat up in the second half, cutting Wake Forest's lead to 50-47 on Toney Douglas' 3-pointer with 9:34 left in the game. However, the Demon Deacons (15-8, 5-5), who had lost 10 straight ACC road games entering Thursday's contest, rebounded quickly and went on a 9-0 run, eventually opening a 64-49 lead that FSU was unable to threaten.

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Wake Forest C Chas McFarland scored hit 7 of 10 shots, grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds and blocked three shots.

TURNING POINT: A 9-0 run by Wake Forest late in the second half turned a 3-point lead into a 12-point advantage.

KEY STAT: The Noles shot 30 percent in the first half, including 0-for-10 from 3-point range.

UP NEXT: FSU plays at Maryland on Saturday at 3 p.m.

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

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