Florida State Overpowers Virginia Tech Behind Somerville’s Second-Half Surge
BLACKSBURG, Va. – Sophomore Martin Somerville scored 23 points to lead the Florida State Seminoles to a decisive 92-69 victory over the Virginia Tech Hokies on Saturday at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia. The win marked FSU’s first in Blacksburg since February 2020 and their third ACC road victory of the 2025-26 season.
Trailing 42-39 at halftime, the Seminoles (12-13, 5-7 ACC) mounted a dominant second-half performance, outscoring the Hokies (17-9, 6-7) 53-27 to secure their fourth win in the last five games. The 23-point margin of victory represents FSU’s largest against an ACC opponent this season.
Somerville’s performance was particularly impactful, scoring 18 of his 23 points after the break on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting from the field. His 23 points tied his season high, falling just four points short of his career best. He also contributed four assists, six rebounds, and a steal.
Somerville wasn’t the only Seminole to shine offensively. Chauncey Wiggins added 19 points, while Robert McCray V and Lajae Jones each finished with 17. McCray recorded his 12th double-digit-scoring game of the season, and Jones extended his streak to four consecutive games scoring in double figures.
The Seminoles’ offensive explosion resulted in a season-high 92 points, eclipsing their previous best in conference play. They also shot a season-best 61.8% from the field, a significant improvement from a season-low 29% against Virginia just prior. FSU also achieved a milestone, shooting better than 50% from three-point range for the first time this season, finishing at 52.2% from behind the arc.
The game began with a back-and-forth rhythm. Virginia Tech initially established a 17-11 lead early on, but Florida State steadily chipped away at the deficit, closing the gap to 26-22 with 7:57 remaining in the first half. A dunk by Wiggins off a forced turnover helped keep the Seminoles within striking distance. Jones contributed two driving layups and four rebounds in the opening period.
A three-pointer by AJ Swinton tied the game at 34, but Virginia Tech quickly responded with a three of their own to regain a three-point advantage. Wiggins connected from beyond the arc with 32 seconds left before halftime, sending Florida State into the break trailing 42-39.
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Florida State opened with a free throw from Robert McCray V and a driving layup by Jones to tie the game. The Seminoles then embarked on a 6-0 run, fueled by a dunk from Jones, free throws from McCray, and a jump shot by Wiggins, to take their first lead at 50-49.
Florida State continued to build on their momentum, extending their lead with a 15-2 run to establish an eight-point advantage with 12:12 remaining. Somerville played a key role during this stretch, scoring five consecutive points.
The Seminoles continued to pull away, holding Virginia Tech to just three points during a 15-3 run that pushed the lead to 78-60 with less than five minutes to play. Florida State ultimately extended their lead to 26 points with 2:37 remaining, marking their largest margin of victory against an ACC opponent this season.
In addition to their offensive prowess, the Seminoles also demonstrated defensive intensity, recording 201 steals for the season, becoming the third ACC team to surpass the 200 mark. Lajae Jones led the team with three blocks, tying his season high, while Alex Steen added two blocks to match his season best. Florida State also out-rebounded Virginia Tech 28-26.
The Seminoles will return home to the Tucker Center to face Boston College on Tuesday, February 17th at 6:00 p.m. ET.
