GAME NOTES: The Florida State Seminoles will try to make it two wins in a row today, as they host the NC State Wolfpack in ACC play at the Tucker Center. The Seminoles are coming off a thrilling victory, as they nipped Virginia, 69-67, on Wednesday. The triumph put a stop to the team's season-high three- game slide and improved it to 13-7 overall and 2-3 in conference play. It was also FSU's 10th win in 11 home outings this season. As for NC State, it was also involved in a close affair on Wednesday, only it was on the short-end of a 77-74 setback to Georgia Tech. It was the third loss in the past four outings for the Wolfpack, which dipped to 12-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The team now takes to the road, where it has gone just 1-4, including 0-2 against conference foes. NC State however, does lead the all-time series with FSU, 24-16, although the Seminoles did win the most recent meeting, 78-52, a season ago.

NC State is converting 45.5 percent of its shot attempts from the floor and 70.6 percent at the foul line and that has led it to a scoring average of 67.3 ppg. Freshman J.J. Hickson tops the roster in both scoring (15.5 ppg) and rebounding (7.9 rpg) and he is shooting a blistering 62.0 percent from the field. Gavin Grant contributes 13.1 ppg and 4.5 rpg and he has been responsible for feeding Hickson the ball, dishing out a team-high 3.2 apg. Courtney Fells chips in with 10.9 ppg, and Brandon Costner adds 10.1 ppg and 5.4 rpg to the mix. In the team's last outing, Fells poured in 23 points and Hickson notched a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Wolfpack in a three-point loss to Georgia Tech. NC State made good on 49.0 percent of its field goal tries, but it turned the ball over 18 times and allowed Georgia Tech to shoot a sizzling 59.2 percent from the floor.

The Seminoles are averaging 73.7 ppg this season thanks to 45.9 percent shooting from the field and an efficient 78.8 percent at the charity stripe. Toney Douglas leads five double-figure scorers with 14.0 ppg and his 53 steals are also a team-high. Jason Rich ranks second in both scoring (12.4 ppg) and rebounding (4.9 rpg), while Isaiah Swann nets 12.3 ppg on 39.9 percent shooting from long range. Uche Echefu turns in 11.5 ppg and a team-high 7.4 rpg, and Ralph Mims fills out the rotation with 10.5 ppg. In the squad's prior contest, Douglas tallied 19 points and snared six caroms to lead FSU in a narrow win over Virginia. Rich posted 17 points, while Swann finished with 16 points. The Seminoles knocked down 44.0 percent of their field goal tries and they also hit on 17-of-24 free throws.

The Seminoles have been tough to beat at home this season and they should continue that trend with a balanced effort today.