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Clemson downs Fla. State, 56-54

By The Associated Press  Wednesday, January 12, 2005

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Clemson coach Oliver Purnell wasn't looking for any style points, just a victory. His Tigers obliged, grabbing a rare Atlantic Coast Conference road win.

Olu Babalola hit a go-ahead jumper with just over two minutes remaining and Clemson's defense made up for a poor shooting night to help the Tigers (10-5, 1-2) defeat Florida State 56-54 on Wednesday night.

"We weren't pretty, we didn't put the ball in the basket that well, but we did scrap," Purnell said.

The Tigers also snapped a 12-game conference road losing streak, which extended back to a 73-64 victory against Virginia in February 2003.

Clemson shot just 35 percent from the field, but took advantage of 22 FSU turnovers. The Seminoles (9-7, 1-2) failed to hit another field goal following Von Wafer's 3-pointer with 4:26 to play, getting only two free throws from Alexander Johnson the rest of the way.

Cliff Hammonds led Clemson with 12 points while Sharrod Ford added 11 points and 12 rebounds and Shawan Robinson finished with 10 points.

Florida State committed two costly turnovers in the game's final 1:49.

"We had some glimpses, but all in all, we didn't play that great," FSU's Adam Waleskowsi said. "We let an opportunity slip by."

Florida State had a better shooting night than Clemson, hitting 47 percent from the floor, but Johnson was the only Seminole in double-figures with a career-high 20 points. However, he was limited in the closing stretch after picking up his fourth foul with 6:58 to go.

The Seminoles' leading scorer with 12.3 points per game, Wafer had been FSU's best long range shooter, but the Clemson defense held him to 5 points and one 3-pointer on 2-of-8 shooting.

"I'm not real sure we're talented enough where we can have one guy score in double-figures and we can be successful," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. "We need for everybody to be playing at their very best for us to compete."

Clemson led 27-26 at halftime, despite shooting a dismal 28.6 percent from the field. The Seminoles had held Clemson without a basket until Vernon Hamilton's 3-pointer nearly eight minutes into the game.

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