Colleges

This time, 'Noles hang on

Days after blowing a big lead, FSU comes through late.

By JAMEY GIVENS
Published February 20, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Jason Rich scores two of his 22 with a dunk in the first half, when Florida State shot 61.9 percent and took a 35-17 lead.

TALLAHASSEE - Just three days after letting a second-half lead slip away at Maryland, it looked as if Florida State was on its way to faltering late again Tuesday night.

The Seminoles took an 18-point first-half lead but were on their heels after scoring just 10 in the first 14 minutes of the second half.

This time, however, the Seminoles hung tough and made enough plays down the stretch to hold on for a much-needed 64-55 victory over Clemson.

"Our players bounced back and played with tremendous effort," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.

Toney Douglas scored 23 and Jason Rich 22, including two tough baskets each time Clemson cut the lead and was on the verge of taking control.

"They had really turned the pressure up on us in the second half," Rich said. "I kept saying that if we could just hold on, we would make enough plays to win the game."

The Tigers employed a trapping press and forced 21 FSU turnovers, but with the game on the line Rich and Douglas were the difference. A layup in traffic from Rich put the Seminoles (15-12, 4-8 ACC) up by nine with 21/2 minutes left, and Douglas jumped a pass and finished at the other end to extend the lead to 11.

"They made big baskets to kind of hold us off," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said.

Clemson (19-7, 7-5) made only 3 of 27 3-pointers and shot just less than 31 percent for the game. FSU's defense was stellar in the first half, holding the Tigers to eight field goals as the Seminoles led 35-17 at the break.

"In the first half, I thought we gave tremendous defensive effort," Hamilton said.

The lead proved too great for the Tigers to overcome, and FSU notched an important conference win. The Seminoles host Boston College on Sunday.

"We have a chance now, mathematically, we can still finish with a representative type season, but we can't do that until we win the next game," Hamilton said. "That's our focus, and now as we turn to Boston College, we realize how important that game is."

Florida St. 64

Clemson 55

[Last modified February 20, 2008, 00:36:41]