Box Score

By BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press Writer

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Alexander Johnson's ferocious dunk sparked a 16-2 run midway through the second half Sunday, and Florida State bounced back from its lone loss of the season by opening Atlantic Coast Conference play with a 79-75 win over Maryland on Sunday.

Florida State (11-1, 1-0) blew a 14-point lead early in the game and fell behind 56-51 in the second half before the Seminoles' run gave them a 67-58 lead with 6:20 left.

Von Wafer and Nate Johnson hit successive 3-point shots during the spurt to help the Seminoles win their first conference opener in four seasons. But it was Johnson's dunk that gave Florida State the lead at 57-56 with 8:48 left as the Seminoles snapped a five-game losing streak against Maryland dating back to the 1999-2000 season.

Johnson led Florida State with 14 points and Tim Pickett added 13, all in the second half. The Seminoles started the season with 10 straight wins before losing 63-56 to Pittsburgh last Monday.

Nik Caner-Medley, John Gilchrist and Chris McCray all scored 15 points for Maryland (7-3, 0-1).

Michael Joiner and Mike Mathews combined for 13 points in the opening minutes when Florida State jumped out to an 18-4 lead, but Maryland scrambled back and tied the game at 30-all.

The Seminoles led 37-36 at the half even though Pickett and Anthony Richardson, their top two scorers, were held scoreless.