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SPORTS

Florida State knocks off Wake

Thursday, March 4, 2010
(Updated 10:27 am)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State's Michael Snaer may be a freshman, but he isn't playing like one.

Snaer scored 14 points, including a pair of game-clinching free throws with 4 seconds left Wednesday night, to lead Florida State to a 51-47 win over Wake Forest, keeping the Seminoles' bid alive for a first-round bye in next week's ACC tournament.

"If I was going to make any free throws in my life, I've got to make these," Snaer said he thought to himself as he stepped to the free throw line for his final two tries.

"He's a cool customer, no doubt about that," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. "He spends an awful lot of time working on his free throws."

Snaer hit all six of his free throws in the game to go along with a pair of dunks and two jumpers to share game scoring honors with Wake Forest's Ishmael Smith.

The Demon Deacons leading scorer and the ACC's top rebounder, Al-Farouq Aminu, was held scoreless for the first time in his career, largely by the efforts of Florida State defensive whiz Chris Singleton, who also contributed eight rebounds and four steals.

Florida State (21-8, 9-6) won despite making only four field goals in the second half.

The win kept the Seminoles in a third place tie with Clemson and Virginia Tech going into the final weekend of regular season play. The top four finishers have an opening round bye in next week's conference tournament.

Meanwhile, Wake Forest (18-9, 8-7) dropped its fourth straight game.

Aminu, who averaged 16.4 points and 11 rebounds a game, managed just two field goal tries against Florida State's giant frontline and finished with four rebounds. The sophomore fouled out with 5:51 left with the Demon Deacons behind 45-44.

Florida State, which blew a six point homecourt lead with three minutes left in Sunday's loss to Clemson, led by five, 49-44, with 3:40 left.

The Seminoles almost did it again, with four turnovers in the final 2:11, but Wake Forest — haunted by 20 turnovers — couldn't capitalize.

Wake Forest came out of a time out with 23 seconds to go for the last shot, trailing 49-47, but Ari Stewart was stripped of the ball by Chris Singleton with 5 seconds left and Snaer was fouled to set up the finishing free throws.

"We had the ball in our hands a couple times and they just took it off of us off the dribble," Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio said. "Those are the turnovers that really hurt you."

Gaudio wanted his team to get off a shot without whittling the clock away, but the Demon Deacons couldn't get it done.

"We weren't going to hold it for just one shot," he said. "We were supposed to take it with 12. That way if we miss it we were going to go ahead and get a second opportunity."

Florida State led throughout the second half, although by never more than six points.

"A piece of cake," Hamilton joked afterward. "Every game is rock'em, sock'em."

C.J. Harris hit three free throws with a second left in the half after being fouled on a 3-point attempt, whittling Wake Forest's deficit to 31-25 at the break after Florida State had just opened its largest lead at 31-22 on a Snaer dunk.

The 6-11 Gibson hit a pair of 3-point shots to key a 13-2 run that gave Florida State a 24-16 lead, overcoming a 6-0 Wake Forest start.

"He hasn't even come close to tapping his potential yet," Hamilton said. "He's just finding his way."

The Demon Deacons were scoreless for 6:23 midway through the half when Florida State build its advantage.

New Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher received a noisy standing ovation from the crowd when he accepted the Gator Bowl championship trophy at halftime. The Seminoles defeated West Virginia 33-21 in former coach Bobby Bowden's final game at Florida State on Jan. 1.

WAKE FOREST (18-9) — Aminu 0-2 0-2 0, McFarland 2-4 1-2 5, Woods 1-2 0-2 2, Smith 7-14 0-0 14, Williams 1-5 2-2 4, Clark 0-1 0-0 0, Harris 2-3 7-7 12, Stewart 3-8 0-0 8, Weaver 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 17-40 10-15 47.

FLORIDA STATE (21-8) — Singleton 1-8 2-4 5, Reid 1-3 1-2 3, Alabi 2-8 6-8 10, Snaer 4-6 6-6 14, Kitchen 1-3 0-0 2, Gibson 4-5 0-2 10, Loucks 0-3 2-2 2, Dulkys 2-5 0-0 5. Totals 15-41 17-24 51.

Wake Forest 25 22 — 47
Florida State 31 20 — 51

Percentages—Wake Forest (FG .425, FT .667), Florida State (FG .366, FT .708).
3-point goals—Wake Forest 3-11 (Stewart 2-4, Harris 1-2, Williams 0-1, Aminu 0-1, Smith 0-1, McFarland 0-1, Clark 0-1), Florida State 4-16 (Gibson 2-2, Dulkys 1-3, Singleton 1-5, Snaer 0-2, Loucks 0-2, Kitchen 0-2).
Fouled out—Aminu.
Rebounds—Wake Forest 26 (McFarland 7), Florida State 28 (Singleton 8).
Assists—Wake Forest 6 (Williams 2), Florida State 10 (Kitchen 6).
Blocked shots—Wake Forest 2 (Aminu 2), Florida State 3 (Alabi 2).
Turnovers—Wake Forest 20 (Aminu 4, Harris 4, Stewart 3, Smith 3, Williams 3), Florida State 15 (Alabi 4, Kitchen 3).
Steals—Wake Forest 7 (Williams 3, Smith 2), Florida State 12 (Kitchen 5, Singleton 4).
Total fouls—Wake Forest 20, Florida State 15.
A—8,178.
Officials—Gary Maxwell, Sean Hull, Mike Wood.

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