Feb. 22, 2006
Final Stats
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Al Thornton scored 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Wednesday night as Florida State defeated Maryland 71-60 to keep its NCAA postseason hopes alive.
Florida State (17-7, 7-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) jumped to an 11-4 lead and stayed in control throughout.
Thornton's 10 points and eight rebounds led Florida State to a 37-27 halftime lead, although the Seminoles were up by as many as 14.
Maryland (16-10, 6-7) pulled within six at 37-31 early in the second half, but Thornton keyed 21-7 Florida State run that put the Seminoles into a 58-38 lead midway through the final half.
The 6-foot-7 Thornton hit 10 of 15 shots from the field and made both of his 3-point tries. Isaiah Swann joined Thornton in double figures with 12 points.
Florida State's win was its seventh in league play this season, its most conference victories in 13 seasons.
Nik Caner-Medley led Maryland with 19 points and Ekene Ibekwe added 15.
Florida State's Alexander Johnson, who had had five double-doubles in his last seven games, played just two minutes in the first half because of foul trouble but finished with nine points and seven rebounds.
