College basketball

Seminoles hold off Cavs' rally to avoid last place

A 20-point lead nearly disappears before FSU earns the No.10 seed in the ACC tournament.

By ZACHARY SPAIN
Published March 7, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - What appeared likely to become a rousing senior sendoff for Florida State forwards Adam Waleskowski and Anthony Richardson on Sunday instead threatened to follow a familiar story line.

The Seminoles gave up a 20-point lead in the second half while barely scoring. But they held on against Virginia 68-63 at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

"I felt like we had one of those periods that have been plaguing us all year long," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.

"I also thought that we regrouped. That's something that we have not been doing."

Waleskowski led the Seminoles with 12 points, and Richardson scored 11 in their final home game.

But freshman guard Jason Rich saved the game.

With the Cavaliers within three with 1:05 left, Rich, 6 feet 3, grabbed an offensive rebound over the 6-5 Devin Smith then converted a one and one. Virginia did not get within two from there.

"I think sometimes when you're a guard and you're in there going up against a bigger guy, he kind of takes you for granted," said Rich, who along with Al Thornton scored 10 points. "I think Smith thought I was just going to bail out."

The win ended the Seminoles' losing streak at nine dating to Jan.26 and gave them the No.10 seed in the 11-team ACC tournament.

FSU and Virginia finished 4-12 in the conference and split two games. But the Seminoles earned the higher seed because their best win (against second-place Wake Forest) is better than the Cavaliers' best win (against fourth-place Virginia Tech).

"We've finally gotten everybody on the same page," Waleskowski said. "If we can just eliminate that however-many-minute stretch, we're going to be a tough team to play in the tournament."

After FSU (12-18) extended its 32-21 halftime lead to 47-27 4:04 in behind consecutive 3-pointers by Andrew Wilson and a layup by Rich, it went cold. FSU scored just two baskets during the final 12:11 while Virginia (13-14) chiseled at the deficit.

Smith scored 14 of his game-high 22 during that span and sophomore reserve Gary Forbes scored eight of his 17.

Forbes made it 57-54 on his fourth 3-pointer of the half with 2:51 left, but Thornton answered with a jumper with 2:27 left. FSU then made seven free throws during the final minute.

"They kept scratching and clawing, made some shots, and we started feeling a little better about ourselves," Cavs coach Pete Gillen said.

"But you can't dig a hole of 20 points against any team."

--Information from other news organizations was used in the report.

[Last modified March 7, 2005, 01:58:12]