TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A young but talented Florida State hopes its 83-78 victory Sunday over No. 21 Florida is the first of many big wins with Atlantic Coast Conference play set to start in two weeks.Tonight we showed the world what we can become and what we have in hold for the future, said Dwayne Bacon, who scored a season-high 24 points.It is the Seminoles first victory over a ranked nonconference team at home since they beat the Gators on Dec. 7, 2008.Coach Leonard Hamilton was even a little leery about what to expect going into the game. Florida had already faced some good tests in Miami, Gonzaga and Duke but Florida State was not as tested and had won its past three games by an average of 41 points.FSU (10-1) struggled for the first 10 minutes, committing seven turnovers as Florida (7-3) scored 15 of its first 19 points off turnovers. The Gators would lead by as many as five before the Seminoles started to settle down and take a 36-34 lead at halftime.In the second half, Bacon took over. The sophomore guard scored nine points during a 15-4 run early in the second half that helped the Seminoles take control after it was tied at 38.I thought in the second half we played with a little bit more poise and executed better, Hamilton said. We had some moments where we were indecisive but had quick recoveries. This is type of game that helped grow up a little bit.Florida State led by 13 midway through the second half before the Gators started to slowly chip away. Florida used a 14-5 run to get within three, but could not get closer.They were terrific offensively in the second half. Bacon got them going not necessarily him scoring but breaking down our defense, Florida coach Mike White said. In the second half we were not the same team defensively. We got to maintain that energy and intensity level.Terance Mann had 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double.Kasey Hill scored a career-high 21 points for Florida, and KeVaughn Allen added 15.Said Hill of Bacons game: He just straight-line drives. Youve got to step in front of him and cut him off and we didnt do that.BIG PICTUREFlorida: Coach Mike White said before the game that he wanted to see his team play with more poise and also play with more consistency when it found itself on the other end of a scoring run. This loss proves that the Gators still have a ways to go in that area before they open Southeastern Conference play Dec. 29 at Arkansas.Florida State: The Seminoles nearly squandered a 13-point lead. But unlike the Temple game, which they lost by three after leading by 18, they were able to hold on and get their third win in non-conference play against a team from a Power Five conference.POLL IMPLICATIONSFlorida could drop out of the Top 25 after dropping both of its games this week. Florida State was ranked for a week in late November and could make a bid to return after winning six straight.STREAKINGThe Seminoles have won three straight over the Gators for the first time in eight years. It is the fourth time in series history they have a three-game winning streak over the Gators.UP NEXTFlorida: The Gators will have their final game of their 11-game road trip to start the season on Saturday against Charlotte in the second game of the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Florida.Florida State: The Seminoles have finals this week and do not have their next game until Saturday when they face Manhattan in the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Florida.---More AP college basketball at
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www.twitter.com/joereedy . Wilson hit Schenn from behind during Tuesday nights game in Philadelphia, earning a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct. He has a phone hearing with the department of player safety, which limits any potential suspension to five or fewer games. . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. . -- Patrick Reed got an early start in golf. . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. "I have been having this neck ache thats been affecting my golf recently," Oyama said. Texas administration is receiving extreme pressure from prominent boosters to dismiss Charlie Strong and hire Houston coach Tom Herman, sources told ESPN.Earlier this week, Strongs job was considered safe if the Longhorns (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) won out against Kansas?and TCU. However, that all changed with Houstons upset of No. 5 Louisville?on Thursday and Texas 24-21 overtime loss to Kansas on Saturday, sources said.Texas stunning loss likely sealed Strongs fate, although he is still expected to coach the season finale Friday against TCU, according to sources.I do not see how he can survive, a source said. He has been given every chance to succeed. Everyone wanted him to.Sources said they dont expect an official decision on Strong until after the completion of the regular season Friday.?He dropped to 16-20 since arriving at Texas -- including 12-14 in league play -- and not even the $10 million buyout he would be due could be enough to keep him from getting fired.We just had our opportunities there, Strong said after Saturdays loss. Not much needed to be said.Asked what it means for his future, Strong replied: No idea.Texas president Greg Fenves and athletic director Mike Perrin have been consistent and very outspoken about their support of Strong. In October, sources told ESPN that Strong would not be fired in-season and be allowed to complete the season.Perrin declined to speak with reporters after the game, looking away when he approached them. Strongs wife, Victoria, was crying outside the Longhorns locker room.Kansas had won only two of its past 31 games. It was Kansas first Big 12 victory since November 2014 and denied Texas a bowl-qualifying win.?The Longhorns must beat TCU on Friday to get bowl-eligible.The lure of Herman, always considered Texas No. 1 target, had dulled with Houstons losses to Navy and SMU and close wins against Tulsa and UCF. The SMU loss was extremely troubling to Texas boosters because it was to a perceived lesser school in the state, sources said.ddddddddddddThat all changed with Herman improving to 22-3 at Houston by dominating Louisville. After that win, the bidding war for Herman is expected to start at a minimum of $5.5 million, an industry source said.According to a source close to the situation, Houston athletic director Hunter Yurachek met with Hermans agent for about two hours last week, but that was before Houston beat Louisville and Hermans stock began to soar again.The source said Houston is prepared to add another seven figures to Hermans current contract, but that if Texas were to offer Herman the job, theres no way the program could compete financially.Houston is trying to raise between $35 and $40 million for a football operations building Herman has asked for that he thinks will help the program win a national championship.Herman is considered among the leading candidates at Texas and LSU, if Jimbo Fisher remains at Florida State, as well as Oregon, if the Ducks fire Mark Helfrich, sources said. Herman also would be a top target of Florida State, if Fisher left for LSU, a source said.Another concern of Texas top boosters is the possibility Texas A&M decides to part ways with Kevin Sumlin for the opportunity to grab Herman, sources said.Herman was dead in the water [with Texas] when he lost to SMU [Oct. 22], a source said. And now hes hotter than ever.Herman was Ohio States offensive coordinator before being named Houstons coach. He has won 22 of 25 games, including all five contests as an underdog against Oklahoma and Louisville this season and Louisville, Navy and Florida State in 2015.Information from ESPNs Heather Dinich and The Associated Press was included in this report. ' ' '
