Virginia Rallies to Defeat Florida State in Late-Game Surge
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 15 Virginia Cavaliers overcame a late deficit to defeat the Florida State Seminoles 61-58 on Tuesday night, extending their winning streak to five games. The Cavaliers closed the game on an 11-0 run, fueled by a strong performance from their bench.
Jacari White, a guard from Orlando, led Virginia with 19 points, including a crucial dunk with 1:12 remaining that put the Cavaliers ahead. White was particularly effective from beyond the arc, shooting 5 of 9 from three-point range. He played 21 minutes and scored more points than he had in any Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game this season, according to reports.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Florida State holding a lead for much of the second half. The Seminoles led by as many as nine points, 54-45, with 8:22 left to play before Virginia began its comeback. Florida State ultimately went scoreless for the final 4:54 of the contest.
Lajae Jones paced Florida State with 21 points and a season-high 13 rebounds. Robert McCray V added 20 points for the Seminoles. Despite their strong individual performances, Florida State struggled with its shooting, connecting on just 29% of its field goal attempts and 18% of its three-pointers.
A jump shot by Thijs De Ridder gave Virginia a 61-58 advantage with 25 seconds remaining. Jones and McCray both had opportunities to tie the game with three-point attempts, but both shots missed the mark.
Virginia’s bench proved to be a significant factor in the victory, outscoring Florida State’s reserves 32-10. De Ridder contributed nine points and nine rebounds, helping the Cavaliers win the rebounding battle 47-37.
While neither team shot exceptionally well, Virginia managed to improve its shooting percentage late in the game. The Cavaliers finished the night shooting 38% from the floor and 30% from three-point range. Despite these percentages, Virginia secured its 10th win in 11 games.
Virginia’s record now stands at 21-3 overall and 10-2 in the ACC. Florida State fell to 11-13 overall and 4-7 in conference play.
Looking ahead, Virginia will host Ohio State on Saturday, . Florida State will travel to Virginia Tech on the same day.
