by Bill from Tampa
Update: FSU plays Cincinnati @9:40pm Sunday.
Earlier in the week Leonard Hamilton said "these guys are good," referring to St Bonaventure.
He reiterated that comment in his post game comments after his Seminoles came from behind by as many as 10 points to beat the Bonnies, 66-63.
Remarkable in the win was that Michael Snaer did not score a single point. While Snaer struggled with his shot (0-7 FG, 0-5 three pointers), Florida State did it almost all on the back of Bernard James.
The 27 year old scored 19 points, 11 in the second half, to go along with 9 rebounds. Add to that 3 blocked shots, the last one coming with just a couple of seconds on the game clock as Da'Quan Cook attempted a put back.
The game could not have started off much worse for the Seminoles, falling behind quickly 7-0, that included two turnovers as well. To make matters worse, Snaer picked up his second foul just 2:22 into the game, obviously affecting his offensive production.
A quick and aggressive St Bonaventure was running circles around and through the FSU defense, which at times looked confused, scoring often in transition. It was somewhat out of character for the Bonnies who generally rely on more of a half court offense.
Hamilton contradicted that assessment saying after the game "we were not confused, we just did not do a good job of defending."
Despite picking up two fouls himself Nicholson scored 12 points (22 for the game) in the first period, leading the Bonnies to a 34-28 half time lead.
FSU made its adjustments coming out out the locker room defensively by gaining control of the pace and eliminating the transition game of the Bonnies. The Seminoles still had difficulty in the half court, getting beaten off the dribble but numerous point blank shots by St Bonaventure would not go down.
Offensively in the final twenty minutes the focus turned more towards the post game.
"No doubt we had to go to Bernard in the second half," Hamilton said.
It resulted in seven points by James within the first 4:30 of the half.
FSU was still down 44-40 but now was in striking distance after being down 41-32 minutes earlier.
The Seminoles stayed in the four to six point range over the next five minutes with Chris Johnson's layup from the weak side making the score 50-44 at the 9:52 mark.
Then the Florida State defense took over. The Seminoles held the Bonnies to just one basket over the next 7:30.
Meanwhile the 'Noles outscored their counterparts 16-2 with several players contributing.
Okaro White kicked the run off with two free throws followed by a bucket by James. Ian Miller had back to back baskets with a runner followed by a three from above the key. James had a near turnover as he was falling to the court but managed to tip the ball to a teammate who found Luke Loucks wide open on the right wing for the three. White finished off the run on a slam dunk off a very nice dish from Loucks in the lane.
FSU now led 60-52 with three minutes left and looking in control of the game.
But as Hamilton noted this was a hard fought game and the Bonnies were not ready to bow out.
James blocked a shot only to have the ball fall into the hands of Demitrius Conger for the put back basket.
A screen and roll by Nicholson caught FSU double teaming the man with the ball, leaving Nicholson all alone out beyond the arc. The resulting three ball made it 60-57 with 1:41 remaining.
White answered with a three only to have Conger get open in the right corner for another three.
With time running out, the Bonnies fouled to stop the clock. Unfortunately for them they fouled Loucks, and as he did in the ACC tournament, the senior guard canned both charity shots to make it a two possession game with 38 seconds left.
Conger answered yet again with a three from the opposite corner making it just a two point game, 65-63.
If that was not tough enough on the old heart, Devidas Dulkys was fouled running just 1.4 seconds off the clock. Dulkys was unable to convert the front end of the one and one, but White made the rebound of the game tipping the ball way outside to Loucks.
Loucks was fouled but converted just one of two, making the score 66-63.
The 'Noles had one foul to give and Snaer used it stopping the clock at fourteen seconds.
Obviously the Bonnies needed a three to tie but the Seminole defense would not let them have it, guarding the arc perfectly and forcing the ball inside where Cook took a running shot only to miss. The rebound came right back to him and his shot from the lane was soundly rejected by James as the buzzer sounded a moment later.
If someone had said the Seminoles' leading scorer Michael Snaer would be scoreless for the game you probably would have thought FSU had lost. But this is why Hamilton stresses his scoring by committee concept and once again it paid dividends.
Loucks started off shaky in his ball handling and shooting but finished very strong, adding 13 points along with 6 assists and 7 rebounds.
For the game the 'Noles shot 45% after shooting just 39% in the first half, reflecting a more efficient half court offense.
The opposite end of the floor was equally improved, holding the Bonnies to 40% for the game after they connected on 46% in the first twenty minutes.
FSU had just escaped in what would have been a disappointing loss following the ACC title, once again showing the mental fortitude when they had to refuse to lose.
Hamilton gave a good amount of credit to St Bonaventure.
“They were well prepared. They’re loaded with talent. They executed very well,” Hamilton said. “We’re very fortunate to come away with the victory. They won their league. Some teams from the Atlantic 10 have done really well in the NCAA tournament.”
Locuks was equally heaping in his praise of the Bonnies who made their first NCAA appearance since 2001.
“That was one of the toughest games we’ve played all season, and that’s all the credit to their team,” he said. “They came out first swinging, and we really didn’t hit back until about 10 minutes to go in the second half. Again, all the credit to them, we really, really had to fight to win that game.”
So Florida State moves on in the tournament and will face Cincinnati, who held off a run by Texas to win 65-59. The start time of Sunday's game was not available at this time and will be announced by the NCAA late Friday night.
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