FSU Shakes Off Frosty Start for Yet Another Comeback Win

FSU once again came back from a double-digit deficit tonight, overcoming a horrendous start to hang a 69-60 loss on the Boston College Eagles. It’s Florida State’s third-straight win over BC, which has now dropped seven in a row.

A Cold Start

On a night when the Tallahassee temperatures are expected to dip below freezing (and the Tucker Center itself was a bit nippy), the Seminoles got off to their own frigid start. As is so often the case with this team, early turnovers were a big part of the problem. The ‘Noles gave it away five times in the game’s first four minutes. At the 14:30 mark, FSU had seven turnovers, and BC had an 11-2 lead. Said Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton of the game’s sloppy start: “The first part of the game, I thought I was having a nightmare– and I couldn’t wake up.”

The Eagles would eventually extend to an 11-point advantage, at 21-10, midway through the first half. Boston College’s offensive strategy in the first half was simple: Olivier Hanlan. The junior who Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim has referred to as “probably the best guard in the league” had 23 first-half points on 10-15 shooting and was left open far too often– especially considering that no other BC player had more than three points at the half.

A Needed Thaw

We’ve seen FSU freeze up frequently in the first stanza and allow other teams to make a lengthy run. Well, this time it was the ‘Noles who benefitted from a BC slump. Down 23-13, FSU cleaned up its play and reeled off 12 straight on Boston College, the big play coming when Devon Bookert nailed a three and was fouled; he would convert the four-point play at the line. The ‘Noles actually captured their first lead at 25-23, but the Eagles fought back to claim a 32-27 halftime edge.

Three Point Blizzard

The second half saw tight play, as neither team really pulled away from the other. For the second time in as many home games, freshman Robbie Berwick provided a second-half spark, hitting both of his three-point attempts, the second of which gave the ‘Noles a lead of 57-50 with about five minutes to go.

That lead would push to eight with a couple of minutes to play, and BC pressed late to try and catch the Seminoles, but to no avail. The Eagles simply didn’t have enough fire power when Harlan finally cooled in the second half (he still finished with a game-high 32). Boston College head coach Jim Christian said after the game, of Hanlan, that “nothing gets to him,” but the Florida State defense certainly did a better job of this in the second half, allowing him just nine points.

More from Chop Chat

Bookert was once again lethal from afar (4-5), and he led the Seminoles with 18 points. The three factored largely into this result, as BC shot 21% from downtown (3-14), whereas FSU finished at 67% (8-12). Florida State also played a much cleaner second half, with half as many turnovers (5) as they had in the first half (10). That’s a big part of the ‘Noles scoring 27 in one half and 42 in the other.

Heading North

The win improves the Seminoles to 15-12 on the year and levels them at a respectable 7-7 in ACC play. The ‘Noles are getting hot at the right time, as they’ve won five of their last seven conference games. Florida State is in action again on Sunday night at 6:30, when they’ll play the ACC-leading Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville. They ‘Noles will have to get off to a better start vs. the Cavs. Per Hamilton: “Virginia will not give us very much room for error.”

Home/FSU Basketball