November 18, 2008 | AP Press

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Sophomore guard Jordan DeMercy scored the game’s last four points in the final 27 seconds and Florida State defeated La Salle 65-61 Tuesday night.

Toney Douglas had 18 points and Ryan Reid 11 for Florida State (2-0), the first school from the Atlantic Coast Conference to visit La Salle’s Tom Gola Arena.

Yves Mekongo Mbala had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Jerrell Williams 10 points for the Explorers, who evened their record at 1-1.

La Salle took its biggest lead of the game, 43-34, with 10:55 left. But the Seminoles rallied behind Douglas and took their biggest lead of the second half, 55-52, with 4:12 remaining.

Williams hit a free throw to tie the score at 61-all with one minute left. But DeMercy made an 18-footer at with 27 second left and then converted two free throws with 11.4 to go to clinch the victory.