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Napier, UConn beat Florida State in overtime

Nov 26, 2011 - 10:59 PM Paradise Island, Bahamas (Sports Network) - Freshman Ryan Boatright hit three free throws late in regulation and Shabazz Napier drilled a go-ahead three- pointer in overtime, lifting No. 4 Connecticut over No. 22 Florida State, 78-76, in the third-place game of the Battle 4 Atlantis.

Napier finished with 26 points, the last coming on his long-distance shot with just more than a minute to play in overtime. That gave UConn its 78-76 edge, and the Huskies held on after Florida State missed the rest of its shots, including two free throws.

Jeremy Lamb scored 19 points for UConn (6-1), which had its national-best, 16- game winning streak snapped Friday in a loss to UCF. Andre Drummond had 12 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks.

Boatright scored 14 points in his first game for UConn. He began his collegiate career by serving a six-game suspension for receiving improper benefits.

Michael Snaer had 20 points to led the Seminoles (5-2), who had dropped a 46-41 decision against Harvard in the semifinals.

The Huskies held a 37-30 lead at halftime and were up by double digits with just under 11 minutes left when Drummond's three-point play made it a 59-49 game.

But FSU's Deividas Dulkys followed with a three-pointer, and hit another a few minutes later to pull his team within three. The Seminoles evened the game at 65 when Xavier Gibson nailed a long-distance shot with 4 1/2 minutes left.

The game was back-and-forth down the stretch, and Drummond made 1-of-2 from the line to bring the Huskies within 69-68 with a minute to play.

They missed numerous opportunities -- free throws, a layup, a three-pointer -- during their next few possessions, and FSU had a few chances to secure the win. But Snaer and Okaro White both made 1-of-2 from the line, keeping the Seminoles' lead at 71-68 with 17 seconds left.

Napier missed a three at the other end, but got the rebound. A foul sent Boatright to the line, and he made all three with 7.3 seconds to play to send the game into overtime.

In a low-scoring overtime, Bernard James completed a three-point play to give FSU a 76-75 edge with a minute and a half to play. But Napier hit the go-ahead three with a minute left, and the Seminoles couldn't sink a shot. Luke Loucks missed a three-pointer and two free throws, and Snaer's three at the buzzer was off the mark.

UConn opened the game on a 7-2 run and led throughout the early part of the first half. After FSU battled back to tie the game at 17, the Huskies ran off nine consecutive points.

Drummond capped the rally with a layup, making it a 26-17 game with just more than four minutes to play.

Game Notes

James ended with 11 points and 14 boards for FSU, while Dulkys netted 14 points...UConn made 2-of-5 shots in overtime, while the Seminoles sank just 2- of-11.