Florida State eliminates Butler from NIT field with 67-63 decision

March 17, 2006

Florida State 67, Butler 63
NIT, First Round

Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) - Alexander Johnson's two baskets in the final minute lifted Florida State to a 67-63 win over cold-shooting Butler in a first round National Invitational Tournament game Friday.

Johnson's jump-hook put the Seminoles ahead 64-63 with 51 seconds left and his putback on a missed free throw by Ralph Sims with 19.4 seconds sealed the victory for a team intent on proving that it was slighted when left out of the NCAA tournament field.

Avery Sheets 3-point basket with 2:22 left to give Butler a 63-61 lead.

The 6-10 Johnson finished with 20 points and nine rebounds while teammate Jason Rich, who sparked an early second-half run, led all scorers with a career best 22, including 13 in the second half.

Brandon Polk led Butler (20-13) with 21 points, but was limited to just five in the second half. The Bulldogs shot an icy 33.8 percent in the game and were just 8 of 37 from 3-point distance.

Florida State started with an 11-2 lead as Butler hit just one of its first 10 shots and just 3 of their first 21 and still were within three, 33-30, at halftime.

Polk scored 16 in the half to keep his team in the game, but four quick Rich baskets helped Florida State (20-9) gain a 47-36 lead.

Florida State will host South Carolina on Tuesday in a second-round game.

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