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Kitchen paces Florida State over Texas A&M

Mar 19, 2011 - 12:40 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Derwin Kitchen scored 15 points with seven rebounds as Florida State took down Texas A&M, 57-50, in second-round action of the Southwest Region.

Bernard James posted 10 points with six borads for the Seminoles (22-10), who take on second-seeded Notre Dame on Sunday.

"I thought our players committed themselves to reversing the ball and moving the ball and making an extra pass, and we got higher percentage shots," said FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton of his team's surge in the second half. "Bernard and Derwin, I thought, stepped up and made big plays when the game's on the line."

Khris Middleton tallied 16 points with five rebounds and four assists for the Aggies (24-9), who ended their season with two straight losses and four in their last six.

Nathan Walkup and David Loubeau had 11 and 10 points, respectively, in defeat.

After Loubeau's layup put the Aggies up 31-23, the Seminoles ripped off 13 straight points. Kitchen started the run with a trey, then James later hit a lay-in to give FSU the lead at 32-31. Michael Snaer completed the surge for a 36-31 contest with 8 1/2 minutes gone in the second half.

A 10-3 burst followed to put the Seminoles' margin at 48-40 when Kitchen finished off a three-point play with 4:49 remaining.

Two from the line by Kitchen made it 53-42 with just over two minutes to play, and Texas A&M had nothing left in the tank.

"That was a weird game. I couldn't believe we were up at half," said Aggies head coach Mark Turgeon. "Then you start the second half and you get up eight, have three straight more possessions, where you can build on that. You think, well, God, we're going to run away with that game. We were on 31 forever. We just didn't execute."

FSU tallied the first five points and led 10-2 early on after a three from Ian Miller, but a Middleton trey gave Texas A&M a 19-17 edge with under four minutes left in the half.

Middleton knocked down another triple from the left corner at the buzzer and Texas A&M went to the break ahead 26-23.

Walkup hit from long distance to start the second half and give the Aggies a six-point advantage.

Game Notes

Florida State improved to 13-12 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, while Texas A&M fell to 9-13...James led all players with three blocks...Kitchen added three assists and two steals...Loubeau tallied eight rebounds...The Aggies shot just 31.4 percent (16-of-51) for the contest.