November 12, 2010

Bob Ferrante, Osceola

FSU Game Highlights vs. UNF

This is far from a polished Florida State team.

Easy baskets were missed. Players weren't in the right position at times. The foul trouble in the first half was concerning.

And then there was this scrappy, undersized North Florida team, somehow trailing by five points midway through the second half.

But FSU recovered thanks to the play of its veterans and a newcomer.

Junior-college transfer Bernard James had a double-double - 15 points and 10 rebounds - and Deividas Dulkys added 12 points as FSU cruised to a 75-55 victory over North Florida in the season opener for both teams.

The Seminoles have won their opener in each of coach Leonard Hamilton's nine seasons.

"I think we did show that we still have a ways to go, by no means are we a finished product," Hamilton said. "I do like this team. I like the parts that we have.

"I feel like before too long we will be a good, solid basketball team. Right now though we are still trying to work some kinks out. But I do like the material we have to work with."

FSU certainly has athleticism and depth - four players scored in double figures. Derwin Kitchen and Chris Singleton each added 11 points for the Seminoles, while Xavier Gibson and Luke Loucks had seven points apiece.

Parker Smith had 16 points and Andres Diaz added 12 points for North Florida, which had 22 turnovers.

But the Ospreys had plenty of fight in the second half.

FSU jumped out to a 42-25 lead at the half as Gibson, Dulkys and James each had seven points.

North Florida chipped away at FSU's lead, cutting the deficit to just five, 50-45, with 10:45 left in the game.

"I don't know what happened; we lost our way," James said. "We just motivated each other to get going again. And we made it happen."

FSU answered right back, as Luke Loucks made a 3-pointer and Singleton dunked after a steal. The Seminoles led 55-45 at that point and were not challenged again as they outscored North Florida 20-10 the rest of the way.

Hamilton said all of the newcomers admitted to nerves.

Freshman Ian Miller missed all five of his shots but contributed three assists.

Another freshman, Okaro White, had six points - all of them in the first half - and five rebounds.

But James, a standout at Tallahassee Community College, turned in a stellar performance with Gibson in foul trouble most of the night.

"Bernard has a knack for rebounding," Hamilton said. "We feel that he has only scratched the surface."

Like Gibson, Singleton was also in foul trouble early. He drew his third foul just seven minutes into the game and was forced to sit for the remainder of the first half with just two points.

Friday's game was the first of what is a grueling stretch of four games in seven days for FSU. The Seminoles travel to face UNC Greensboro on Sunday, return home to play Gardner Webb on Thursday and then take on Isiah Thomas' Florida International team on Thursday in Miami.

Notes: Gibson fouled out with seven points in just 13 minutes. ? Terrance Shannon (ankle) did not dress for the game. ? The announced crowd was 9,562.
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