BROOKLYN, N.Y. – Florida State defeated Saint Joseph’s, 73-66, in the championship game of the 2012 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at the Barclays Center on Saturday night.
The Hawks drop to 2-1 while Florida State improves to 3-1.
Ronald Roberts led Saint Joseph’s with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while C.J. Aiken had 10 points. Carl Jones, a senior, made his season debut after sitting out three games (exhibition included) for a violation of University community standards, and scored 13 points.
For his efforts in Brooklyn, Roberts was named to the event’s All-Tournament Team.
Saint Joseph’s went on a 10-2 run to start the second half as a jumper by Halil Kanacevic put SJU on top, 42-38, with 16:41 to play. A three-pointer by Chris Wilson pushed the advantage back to four at 47-43 at the 15:24 mark.
The Seminoles then went on a 9-0 run over the next two minutes to take a lead they would not relinquish at 52-47 with 13:35 to play.
With SJU down 52-48, Jones scored four straight to tie it at 52-52. The Seminoles countered with five straight to take a 57-52 lead, but three free throws from C.J. Aiken pulled the Hawks within 57-55 at 7:28. FSU went ahead 61-55, but Aiken put back an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to 61-57. Okaro White’s dunk gave FSU a 63-59 lead but Jones answered with a jumper at 4:46, 63-59.
Aiken and Jones combined for 11 points over an eight-minute span to keep the Hawks within a four-point margin, but Florida State salted the game away from the free throw line to keep the Hawks at bay.
The Hawks struggled from beyond the arc, going just 1-for-11 in the second half and 4-21 for the game.
The first half went back and forth with five ties and nine lead changes, but Florida State shot 53.8 percent and held a 36-32 halftime lead.
Saint Joseph’s returns home to Hagan Arena to face Harvard on November 20. The game will be nationally televised on the NBC Sports Network at 8:00 p.m.
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