February 3, 2008

Derek Redd, Osceola
Warchant.com

After falling victim to several heartbreaking last-second shots over the past few games, the Florida State men's basketball team had one drop in its favor Sunday afternoon.

With 8.1 seconds remaining in regulation, the Seminoles' unlikeliest long-range threat, forward Ryan Reid, decided not to pass the ball to marksman Isaiah Swann, instead launching a 3-pointer from the right corner. It was his first attempt, and first successful 3-point shot, of the season.

That basket forced overtime against fourth-ranked North Carolina, but that was the last thing that went well for the Seminoles in the game. FSU never led in the extra period, falling to UNC 84-73 at the Donald L. Tucker Center. It was FSU's third straight loss and sixth in its last seven games.

Now 2-6 in the ACC, the Seminoles (13-10) are running out of time to recover.

"I'm still holding out hope that we can make one of those runs at the end of the season here to regain some respectability," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. "At the end of the season, when you look back, these close losses won't mean anything other than that they're in the 'L' column."

It looked like the Seminoles has seized the momentum going into overtime with Reid's three and a defensive stop on the other end of the floor. But the extra minutes belonged to the Tar Heels (21-1, 6-1 in the ACC). They outscored the Seminoles 17-6 in those five minutes and, Hamilton said, took over the game in a couple of key areas.

"I thought they got some second chance points that we didn't get," Hamilton said of his team's overtime fade. "Two of those (overtime) baskets were put-backs and they also got to the foul line."

North Carolina scored 27 second-chance points in the game and hit 27 of 33 free throws compared to Florida State's 11 of 15. The Seminoles hit just one of seven shots in overtime.

Florida State never let the Tar Heels sprint away on a back-breaking run, the type of run that has killed FSU over the last month. Florida State held North Carolina to 42 percent shooting and forced 21 turnovers in regulation. Yet the Seminoles never got on a run of their own and, despite leading twice at the start of the first half, needed Reid's bomb to stay even.

FSU got a break early four minutes into the game when UNC point guard Ty Lawson went down with a left ankle sprain and was done for the game. With Lawson, considered the nation's fastest point guard, gone, the Seminoles were better able to handle the Tar Heels' transition game.

UNC coach Roy Williams said Lawson's injury did change the game.

"He's our best passer and he can break you down off the dribble," he said. "But you have to congratulate Florida State's defense. I've always thought Leonard never got the credit he deserved for how well his teams defend you."

Yet the Tar Heels dominated the glass, outrebounding Florida State 54-26. All-American Tyler Hansbrough, despite not scoring from the field until 9:43 remained in regulation, recorded his first 20-20 game with 21 points and a career-high 22 rebounds.

Junior forward Uche Echefu said it was a team effort stopping Hansbrough in the low post for the first three-quarters of regulation.

"We tried to limit his touches and, if he did get the ball, we tried to double team him," Echefu said. "I think we did a good job of fronting him the first half. But once he got a couple of points, I think his confidence came back."

FSU senior guard Jason Rich led all scorers with 22 points, while Toney Douglas added 12 despite hitting just three of 20 shots and Isaiah Swann also added 12.

With their postseason hopes fading, the Seminoles have just eight games left to turn things around. Rich said the only way FSU can accomplish that is by staying away from negative thoughts.

"I think we just have to stay together as a team," Rich said. "Sometimes, when you're struggling, it's easy to splinter. But I thought tonight that we played well together. It's very encouraging and that's what it's going to continue to take.

"We're just going to have to grind," he continued. "We're not going to stop. I don't see this team quitting. I don't see us giving up."

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