FSU 67, MIAMI 58: Seminoles match best start vs. coach's former team.
By Wire services
Published December 15, 2003
CORAL GABLES - Leonard Hamilton waved to Florida State fans as he left the University of Miami's Convocation Center on Sunday. It was the most emotion he showed in his return to the school he coached for 10 seasons.
Anthony Richardson scored 15, including five in a game-ending 13-0 run, to help Florida State match its best start with a 67-58 win over Miami.
Hamilton beat his former team for the second straight season. This one was sweeter, though, as Hamilton has the Seminoles (8-0) off to their best start, matching the 1977-78 and 1988-89 teams.
"I wasn't nervous, I wasn't uptight and I wasn't really anxious," he said. "But I really wanted to win the game. It wasn't because it was Miami but because it was a big game for us."
Showing Hamilton's penchant for intense defense, FSU forced six turnovers and held Miami (5-3) scoreless over the final seven minutes, a stretch that made the difference.
The 'Canes led 58-54 before missing their final seven shots.
FSU's leading scorer, Tim Pickett, picked up two early fouls and was scoreless in the first half. But he scored 12 after the break and started the comeback with a steal and a layup with 4:28 left.
Alexander Johnson had a dunk, Richardson hit a free throw and Johnson added a layup to make it 61-58. Richardson and Pickett combined to go for 6-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final minute to seal the victory.
Miami had three consecutive chances to take a lead trailing 59-58, but Darius Rice had a turnover and Robert Hite missed a layup and a 3-pointer.
"Our turnovers killed us," Miami coach Perry Clark said. "They turned into easy baskets for them."
Rice led the Hurricanes with 20 points despite back spasms that caused him to miss several practices last week. Armondo Surratt added a career-high 15.
"We had this game wrapped up," Rice said. "They shouldn't have been on the floor with us. ... We let it slip away."
Hamilton showed little emotion in his return.
In his final three years at Miami, the Hurricanes went 39-13 in the Big East and advanced to three straight NCAA Tournaments, including an unexpected run to the Sweet 16 in 2000.
After that season, then-Washington Wizards president Michael Jordan lured Hamilton to the NBA. Hamilton resigned after going 19-63 in his first season.
