No. 14 Florida State accomplished a number of things on Senior Night at the Donald L. Tucker Center on Tuesday night. The Seminoles tied a school record for ACC wins, clinched a double-bye in the ACC Tournament and rallied from 14 points down to top No. 15 Virginia Tech, 73-64.
The Hokies (22-7, 11-6 ACC) used a hot start from behind the 3-point arc and stifling defense early to build a 33-19 halftime lead. The Seminoles (24-6, 12-5 ACC) would regroup at the break and respond with a 27-8 run to open the second half.
Virginia Tech would trail by as many as six in the second half, but managed to rally late to force overtime. After FSU’s Terance Mann made two free throws following a Hokie turnover to put the Seminoles up 61-58 with 27 seconds remaining, Ahmed Hill knocked down a 3-pointer with 13 seconds to play to tie the game. Mann had a 3-point look at the end of regulation that would have won the game, but it was no good.
Hill split a pair of free throws to open the scoring in overtime and give Virginia Tech the early lead in the extra period, but FSU responded with eight straight points. Phil Cofer’s layup midway through the overtime put FSU ahead for good before M.J. Walker knocked down a trey with the shot clock winding down with a minute to play to help stifle the Hokies.
Despite a hot start, Virginia Tech finished at 42 percent shooting from the field and just 8-for-27 from deep. The Hokies held a 37-32 rebounding edge, but turned the ball over twice as much as FSU (14 to 7).
FSU shot just 38 percent from the field and 10-for-36 from deep, but made the most of its free throw opportunities, going 19-for-22. Virginia Tech was 12-for-15 from the line.
On Senior Night, it was sophomore Mfiondu Kabengele who led the Seminoles in scoring with 17 points to go with a team-high nine rebounds. Mann and Cofer, both seniors, added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Walker also scored 11 in the victory.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker paced Virginia Tech with a game-high 19 points while Hill added 18 points and nine rebounds. Ty Outlaw knocked down three 3s en route to a 10-point night. Kerry Blackshear, who had recorded three straight double-doubles coming in, finished with nine points, five rebounds and four assists before fouling out.
FSU will be the No. 4 seed in the ACC Tournament, but not before it wraps up the regular season on Saturday at Wake Forest. Virginia Tech closes at home against Miami on Friday night.
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