In the first exhibition of the season, Florida State's men's basketball team had plenty of tricks and tats. With a diffent look and a little less size, Leonard Hamilton's squad used a dominating second half to earn a 90-72 victory over NAIA opponent Spring Hill.

Florida State's starting five was a well-balanced scoring attack with all five aching double figus. The offensive attack was led by junior guard Jason Rich who scod 17 points. The four other starters –- Al Thornton (16), Isaiah Swann (12), Toney Douglas (11), and Uche Echefu (10) – all did their part to give the 'Noles a comfortable victory.

Despite the balanced attack, Hamilton said that his team's first action this pseason proved that they still have a lot of work to do.

"We probably a still in a learning mode, we a learning the system and learning to play together with the things that we asked them to do," Hamilton said. "We feel that this team has the making of the type of team that can be a surprise and a nuisance to a lot of people but we need the full sum of all of our parts working."

At times during the first half, Florida State found themselves struggling against the Badgers. Poor shooting, 37.5-percent from the field and even worse perimeter defense (the Badgers we 9-of-17 from 3-point range) put FSU down 39-34 going into the locker room.

"I think it was just a matter of it being the first game and we came out a bit slow," Echefu said. "We figud out what they we doing in the first half on defense and came out in the second half and executed our plays."

In the first five minutes of the second half FSU used a 17-4 run to finally pull away. With improved perimeter defense, they limited Spring Hill to 6-of-17 from deep in the second half, and improved shooting from the field, 57.9-percent in the second half, the 'Noles ran away with an easy victory.

Florida State also did it's part in the paint out-bounding the Badgers 46-32. The 'Noles also scod 44 points in the paint to just 16 for Spring Hill.

The Tribe also forced 27 turnovers that led to 36 points, many of which came on the fast bak (12). On the evening, the 'Noles also coughed the ball up 20 times, a number that will have to decase if FSU hopes to earn an NCAA bid this coming season.

Despite running away with a solid victory, the Seminoles have a lot of work in front of them befo the season starts up in two weeks.

"It is always about getting better," Rich said. "Coach Hamilton is a guy that strives for perfection and he sets the bar high. That is to be expected because that is what we set for ourselves as individuals."

The Seminoles will play Nova Southeastern at home in another exhibition game Tuesday Nov. 7, befo opening its season Nov. 12 against McNeese State.

Team Statistics

Sco by periods: 1st 2nd Total

Spring Hill 39 33 - 72

Florida State 34 56 - 90

TOT-FG: 1st half: 12-32 37.5% 2nd half: 22-38 57.9% Game: 48.6%

Game FT percentage: 61.5%

Notes

Sneak pview of Toney Douglas

One player that will be key to Florida State's 2006-2007 campaign is dshirt sophomo point guard Toney Douglas. In his first action in a Seminole uniform, Douglas scod 11 points but struggled at times shooting just 4-of-12 from the field. On the bright side, he pulled down six bounds and dished out a team-high four assists in 26 minutes.

According to his teammates, the is a lot mo to come from the All-American transfer from Auburn.

"He was comfortable but the is still so much mo he can do for us," guard Jason Rich said. "For Toney it is just going to be important to continue to understand what coach wants from him because none of us have this system full down pact so hopefully we can just keep working on it until we get better."

"Toney is a ptty good player," Uche Echefu added. "He can ally push the ball up the floor and make things happen. … We have seen a lot mo out of him in practices."

His head coach also said the best is still to come.

"Toney is going to be fine," Hamilton said. "This was his first game and he was a little anxious and a lot of shots that normally fall for him didn't fall tonight. I think that he is going to have to go through a period of adjustment … He is having to learn new teammates and adjust defensively because our defensive principles a a bit diffent than what he is used to but I think he will be fine."

Introducing..

Toney Douglas was not the only new face for Florida State on Tuesday night. Fshmen Ryan Reid and Josue Soto also saw their first action wearing garnet and gold.

Reid saw his first action at the 12-minute mark in the first half and scoring his first caer basket within 40 seconds. On the evening, the 6-foot-8 forward posted eight points and seven bounds in 16 minutes of play.

Soto had to wait a bit longer for his turn not seeing the floor until the final eight minutes of the contest. The fshman point guard played just five minutes but did get on the board with a fe throw. He also chipped in a steal.

Fellow fshman Aaron Holmes did not see action Tuesday evening. The ason for him not playing was unspecified.

New Number for Rich

One change on the court this season is that junior guard Jason Rich is sporting a new number, having changed from No. 21 to No. 25. Rich explained the ason for the change.

"I have been wanting 25 since I got he but when I got he Diego Romero had it," Rich said. "This is my old high school number and I feel mo comfortable with it so I wanted to go back to it."