FSU Tops Alabama In Basketball

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Alabama Crimson Tide dropped a tough 60-51 decision to the Florida State Seminoles in the second round of the Old Spice Classic on Friday at The Milk House.

Senior Mikhail Torrance and sophomore JaMychal Green led Alabama with nine points each for the Crimson Tide, which falls to 3-2 on the season. Green also added a game-high eight rebounds before fouling out with 4:45 left in the game.

Florida State was led by Chris Singleton's 14 points and Solomon Alabi, who added ten. The Seminoles improve to 5-1.

“You’ve got to give Florida State credit,” Alabama Coach Anthony Grant said. “For a team that’s played their third game in four days, I thought they came out and played with a lot of energy and obviously shot the ball extremely well from the field tonight.”

Florida State converted on 46.5 percent of its field goal attempts and a staggering 69.2 percent of its three-point attempts including 6-of-7 in the first half.

Trailing 30-25 at halftime, the Crimson Tide pulled within two at 34-32 on junior Charvez Davis' three-point bucket with 15:43. Alabama, though, would not muster another score for nearly five minutes as Florida State took control of the game with an 11-0 run.

By the time senior Justin Knox knocked down a three-point basket with 10:48 to go, the Seminoles had mounted a double-digit lead. Alabama would pull within seven at 58-51 on junior Chris Hines' basket at the 1:44 mark, but could not cut into the FSU lead any further.

"When you look at the numbers this year, I think Florida State is holding opponents to 30 percent from the field and 25 percent from the three-point line," Grant said. “That’s been their staple, that’s why they’re a good team and Coach Hamilton does a good job with them and they played to their identity tonight.”

The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 10-4 lead in the early going and held a 22-17 advantage before a 7-0 Florida State run gave the Seminoles a lead it would not relinquish for the rest of the game. Alabama attempted a season low eight free throws, making five, while FSU got to the line 21 times.

Junior Senario Hillman scored seven points for the Crimson Tide while Knox and senior Anthony Brock each had six.

Alabama will play No. 15 Michigan on Sunday in its final game of the Old Spice Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. (CST). The game will be televised by ESPNU.