FSU Basketball: Noles Fall to Virginia Tech in Second Round
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU Basketball rallied late but came up short in second half against Virginia Tech.
1st Half
FSU basketball certainly got off to a slow start against Virginia Tech on Wednesday night. It’s like it was a continuation of where the second game ended as Virginia Tech scored the first five points of the game in the first 30 seconds.
The Noles were down six early on before fighting back to cut the lead to two points at the 15 minute mark. However, Virginia Tech went on a nice run to push the lead back to eight with 10 minute left in the first half.
A 6-3 run over the next two minutes and 45 seconds saw Virginia Tech its lead to 11 points. Just too many easy baskets in transition for Virginia Tech, but the Noles would fight back to cut the lead to six with 3:40 left in the half.
The Noles hit a cold spell, settling for jump shots allowing Virginia Tech to stretch the lead back to 10 with less than 10 seconds left. However, Devon Bookert hit a long three as the buzzer sounded to cut the lead to 45-38 at the a half.
The Hokies shot 60 percent for the half and 42.9 percent from beyond the arc and 6-7 from the charity stripe.
FSU basketball 36.1 percent and 31.3 percent from beyond the arc, making 7-11 from the charity stripe and only two turnovers.
2nd Half
Virginia Tech knocked down a three pointer on their first possession, but FSU got a couple of defensive stops to cut into the lead and get it back to six points with 18:32 remaining.
The Hokies threatened to stretch the lead to double digits a couple of times, but the Noles kept hanging around cutting the lead to five with 13:52 remaining.
The Noles put Virginia Tech in the bonus with 12 minutes left in the game and went up eight points on two free throws at the 11:50 mark.
FSU basketball was down 10 with 10:00 left in the second half with Virginia Tech in the double bonus and the FSU defense continued to be non-existent by allowing VT guards to drive the lane for layups.
The Virginia Tech lead stretched to 17 with 8:20 remaining, but the Noles cut the lead to 11 with 5:58 remaining.
However, the Hokies had an answer every time FSU basketball looked to close the gap. They did a great job of taking rebounds with long outlet passes to score in transition.
Virginia Tech was assessed a technical foul at the 4:47 mark, leading 83-71, and the Noles made 3-4 to cut the lead to 83-74.
The foul fest continued with the refs calling a very tight game, but FSU’s free throw woes continued. Dwayne Bacon, Terrance Mann and Devon Bookert fouled out.
Virginia Tech defeated the Noles 96-85.
The difference in the game was the hot shooting of Virginia Tech and missed free throws by the Noles. Seth Allen lead Virginia Tech with 20 points, followed by Justin Bibbs with 16 points respectively.
FSU was led by Devon Bookert’s 19 points followed by Dwayne Bacon with 13 points and seven rebounds respectively.