Colleges

'Noles senior makes a memory

Ralph Mims hits a layup for FSU's final points in his last regular-season home game.

By Jamey Givens, Times Correspondent
Published March 9, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [AP photo] Florida State senior Ralph Mims, who scored 25, shoots over Miami's James Dews and Anthony King.

TALLAHASSEE - Ralph Mims wasn't nervous during Saturday's senior day festivities or when he sung the national anthem before his last regular-season game at the civic center.

But with his Seminoles clinging to a three-point lead with less than two minutes left in overtime, the senior point guard admitted he was worried coach Leonard Hamilton wasn't going to give him a chance to win the game.

Hamilton looked Mims in the eye during a timeout, called Mims' number and the senior delivered, knifing through the lane and making a tough layup in traffic to seal Florida State's 75-72 overtime win over Miami in the regular-season finale for both.

"When he looked at me, I knew he was going to call my number," Mims said. "This is my last game, and he gave me an opportunity to display my talent."

Mims had 25 points, including five of FSU's nine in overtime, and provided a boost to the offense down the stretch. Toney Douglas shot just 3-of-14 from the field and Jason Rich fouled out with 5:46 left in regulation, but just as Mims had promised the team in a meeting on Friday night, he "showed up."

"He was on point, right from the national anthem to the end of the game," Hamilton said.

There was plenty at stake for the Hurricanes (21-9, 8-8). Miami was playing for fourth in the ACC and a first-round bye in next week's conference tournament. The Hurricanes will finish fifth or sixth, depending on what Maryland does today.

"This was a big game for us; we were playing for fourth place" Miami coach Frank Haith said. "Toughness-wise, we need to find a way to win the game."

After making only seven of their first 13 free throws, the Seminoles (18-13, 7-9) showed why they are one of the top free-throw shooting teams in the country, making 22-of-24 in the second half, including 20 straight. Still, the Hurricanes had a two-point lead with less than a minute to go, but Ryan Reid made two free throws with 34 seconds left to tie the score at 66.

"Those were big free throws," Hamilton said.

After Mims' layup in overtime pushed the lead to five, Lance Hurdle made two free throws, and Douglas missed a jumper. Brian Asbury missed a deep 3-pointer and Jack McLinton's desperation attempt missed completely.

FSU 75

Miami 72

Overtime

[Last modified March 8, 2008, 21:55:24]