DAVID ROYSE
Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) (Feb. 21) — Damous Anderson scored 26 points off the bench to spur Florida State to a 64-54 come-from-behind win over Georgia Tech in an Atlantic Coast Conference game on February 21.
| Tech’s Jon Babul (23) looks to shoot over Florida State’s David Anderson, left, during the first half on Monday, Feb. 21, 2000 in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Coale) |
Florida State (10-13 overall, 5-7 conference) had to overcome a barrage of nine 3-pointers by Georgia Tech’s Tony Akins, the most this season in an ACC game. Akins finished with 33 points to lead all scorers.
The loss continued the woes of Yellow Jackets Coach Bobby Cremins in his first game since announcing he won’t coach the team next year. It was the third straight loss for Georgia Tech (11-14, 3-9), and dropped them into a tie with Clemson for last place in the ACC.
Akins was 5-for-5 from 3-point range in the first half and was outscoring the entire Florida State team until just over a minute to play in the half.
That staked the Yellow Jackets to a 34-26 lead at the half, but Florida State came alive in the second half, led by Anderson and Nigel Dixon, and nearly shut out Georgia Tech over the last four minutes of the game.
Anderson ended the first half with a resounding dunk and started the second half with another dunk on a fast break that got the Seminoles’ crowd into the game.
He then hit a 3-pointer with just over 10 minutes left to pull the Seminoles to within one at 47-46 to shift the momentum for good.
The lead changed hands a couple of times, but Anderson blocked an Akins shot from behind and hit a lay-up at the other end to give Florida State a 54-53 lead with 4:46 to play. It was a lead they would never relinquish.
The Seminoles turned up the intensity on defense and the Yellow Jackets only managed one more point the rest of the way, and failed to score a field goal in the last 6:56 of the game.
Ron Hale added 17 points for the Seminoles.
Dixon had 8 rebounds off the bench to lead the Florida State defense.
It was a very physical game and Florida State center David Anderson suffered a broken nose early in the first half when Georgia Tech’s Alvin Jones backed into him hard after a rebound.
