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Florida State Holds Off Western Illinois

The Associated Press

Published: November 25, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - Uche Echefu and Solomon Alabi scored 12 points each as Florida State used its superior size advantage to turn back Western Illinois 67-55 on Monday.

Chris Singleton added 10 points as the Seminoles (5-0) outscored the Leathernecks 26-10 in the paint and held a 34-23 rebounding advantage.

Trailing 46-22, Western Illinois (1-4) used a 20-4, second-half scoring run to climb back into the game.

The Leathernecks cut the advantage to eight points three times but could get no closer.

David DuBois led Western Illinois with 14 points.

DuBois scored on a putback with 1:27 remaining to pull the Leathernecks within 61-53, but missed a free throw with chance to cut the deficit to seven.

The Seminoles built a 34-20 halftime lead behind a defense that limited the Leathernecks to five field goals on 19 attempts.

Echefu, still recovering from offseason knee surgery, eclipsed his season-high with 10 points in the first half.

W. ILLINOIS (1-4) - Granstra 0-2 2-2 2, Tyler 1-3 4-4 6, Nurse 2-9 2-2 8, Rivers 2-7 0-0 5, Dubois 5-11 4-5 14, Williams Jr. 1-2 4-4 6, Clark 4-6 1-2 12, Kirby 0-3 2-2 2, Jones Jr. 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 15-44 19-21 55.

FLORIDA ST. (5-0) - Singleton 4-7 2-2 10, Reid 3-3 2-2 8, Alabi 5-8 2-2 12, DeMercy 1-4 2-2 4, Douglas 3-7 1-2 7, Jordan 1-3 0-0 3, Gibson 1-5 1-1 3, Loucks 2-4 0-0 5, Dulkys 1-5 0-1 3, Hoff 0-0 0-0 0, Echefu 1-4 9-10 12. Totals 22-50 19-22 67.

Halftime-Florida St. 34-20. 3-Point Goals-W. Illinois 6-22 (Clark 3-5, Nurse 2-9, Rivers 1-5, Williams Jr. 0-1, Dubois 0-2), Florida St. 4-12 (Jordan 1-1, Echefu 1-1, Loucks 1-3, Dulkys 1-3, Singleton 0-1, Gibson 0-1, DeMercy 0-2). Fouled Out-Nurse, Singleton. Rebounds-W. Illinois 23 (Dubois, Tyler 5), Florida St. 34 (Singleton 9). Assists-W. Illinois 8 (Rivers, Williams Jr. 2), Florida St. 12 (DeMercy, Echefu 3). Total Fouls-W. Illinois 19, Florida St. 20. A-5,194.