Among many memorable moments for Charlie Ward during his time at Florida State was the late comeback in Atlanta in 1992 as Ward led the Seminoles down the field for the game-winning touchdown in an improbable 29-24 comeback win.
FSU would blank the Yellow Jackets the following season in Tallahassee during Ward’s Heisman Trophy campaign, but the 1992 victory in Atlanta that gave birth to the “Fast Break Offense” wouldn’t be the only time that Ward broke Georgia Tech’s heart in Atlanta. The other occasion came on this day 25 years ago — on the hardwood.
Fresh off an Elite Eight run, the Seminoles were in the midst of a down year as they invaded Alexander Memorial Coliseum on Jan. 29, 1994 to face No. 21 Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets were also struggling to start ACC play and early on, it looked as though that would continue.
The Seminoles got off to a strong start, building a 31-20 lead. Georgia Tech however, had a response. The Yellow Jackets closed the first half on a 21-10 run, which was capped by a 3-pointer by Eddie Elisma as the first-half horn sounded.
The triple tied the game at 41 at the break and a technical foul on FSU head coach Pat Kennedy led to a pair of free throws to start the second half. Two free throws by Travis Best jumpstarted a 6-0 run to open the second half and the Yellow Jackets held that lead until the under 6-minute mark.
FSU’s first lead of the second half came by way of a 7-0 run that was capped by a Ward steal and a Bob Sura lay-in to go up 68-67. Georgia Tech would score the next four points and add a free throw by James Forrest before jumpers by Sura and Ward knotted the game at 72.
Forrest split another pair of free throws with 1:31 to play as the Yellow Jackets held a 73-72 lead late. After missed 3-pointers on both ends, FSU regained possession, down one with 17 seconds to go.
Following a timeout, Ward did to the Yellow Jackets on the hardwood just as he had done on the gridiron the academic year prior. Ward drove past Best, the Georgia Tech point guard and future NBA player, for the winning layup while drawing contact on Forrest.
Ward missed the free throw, but it didn’t matter as Forrest’s desperation 3 was no good in a thrilling 74-73 win for the Seminoles. Ward finished with 11 points, six assists and four steals in the win while Sura paced FSU with 22 points. James Collins and Chuck Graham finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively.
Forrest finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead Georgia Tech while Best and Fred Vinson each added 17 points in the loss.
The win would serve as the only one over a ranked opponent that season for FSU, which finished just 13-14 and 6-10 against the ACC. As for Georgia Tech, it would creep back into the top 25 in early February, but would ultimately have to settle for the NIT that season. Still, the win serves as a memorable one and one of the last “Seminole” moments for Ward during his spectacular 2-sport FSU career. It came on this day 25 years ago.
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