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FSU Pulls Together To Beat BC

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - As their roller-coaster and injury-plagued season winds down, Florida State players continue to use phrases like "making a run" and "proving people wrong." Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton prefers the more reserved "keeping our mathematical chances alive."

With only three games remaining until the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament next month in Charlotte, N.C., the Noles (16-12, 5-8 ACC) probably need to win all three and then make a strong statement in the conference tournament to have any chance of making the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 10 years.

They can improve their chances with more performances like Saturday afternoon's 66-63 victory against Boston College, giving FSU back-to-back wins for the first time since Jan. 5. Hamilton used eight players in FSU's first victory over the Eagles - Boston College had won three previous meetings since joining the ACC in 2005 - and all eight scored in one of FSU's best team efforts in weeks.

"Everyone is having a lot more fun," said freshman forward Julian Vaughn, who contributed six points, five rebounds and a blocked shot. "Everyone is coming together at the right time."

Vaughn, Matt Zitani (five points) and Jordan DeMercy (four points, two rebounds) provided a big boost off the bench Saturday. Vaughn scored consecutive baskets during a 9-0 run midway in the second half; Zitani provided energy and a key basket in the second half; and DeMercy showed newfound confidence on a pair of early scores that helped FSU open a commanding 21-9 lead at the start.

"They all played with a certain level of confidence," Hamilton said. "It was a different type of body language."

Boston College (13-12, 4-8) didn't go away quietly, cutting FSU's lead to 62-60 on a 3-point play from Shamari Spears with 23.5 seconds left. Senior guard Ralph Mims put FSU up by four with a pair of free throws, and then as Eagles guard Tyrese Rice tried to drive to the basket on the next possession, FSU forward Uche Echefu stripped him, setting up a pair of free throws by Toney Douglas to seal the game with 10.6 seconds left.

FSU never trailed, opening its biggest lead, 49-35, with 11:02 left in the game.

"Every time we attempted to make a run, defensively they came up with a play to disrupt the run" Boston College coach Al Skinner said. "We were not able to sustain any runs to get back into the game."

Coming off a 64-55 win over Clemson on Tuesday, the Noles limited Rice, the ACC's second-leading scorer at 20.8 points a game, to 17 on 4-for-14 shooting. Douglas, guarding Rice most of the game, scored a game-high 20 points to lead FSU in scoring for the fifth consecutive game. Mims added 14, and reiterated that it is not too late for the Noles to accomplish their ultimate goal despite what has transpired this season.

"We believe in each other so much," Mims said. "We are trusting each other more. In this conference, you can't predict nothing. Anything can happen."

INSIDE THE GAME

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Noles G Toney Douglas scored a game-high 20 points, hitting four of five from 3-point range.

TURNING POINT: A 9-0 run midway through the second half turned a five-point FSU lead into 14, too much for Boston College to overcome.

KEY STAT: FSU had 11 assists, one more than in its previous two games combined.

UP NEXT: FSU travels to face N.C. State on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

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

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