FSU Basketball avoids late letdown to upset No. 12 North Carolina

FSU basketball nearly blew a double digit lead in the second half but held on late to get the one point win over the Tar Heels on Wednesday night.

For the first time in nearly three decades in Tallahassee on Wednesday, snow fall was recorded thanks to a storm that has taken over most of the country. Later in the evening and into the night, the FSU basketball team recorded something for the first time in their last eight tries – a win over the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Behind a solid first half – and just enough defense in the second to overcome a Tar Heels comeback and shaky free throw shooting at the end – the No. 24 ranked Seminoles escaped the Tucker Center and sent fans back into the cold weather happy with a 81-80 win.

The first half was a shooting exhibiton for the Noles, who shot over 55 percent in the half and nailed nine three pointers in the first 20 minutes to jump out to an 11 point lead at the break – led by Braian Angola and his team high 20 points on the night.

The second half would be a complete opposite as North Carolina could not be stopped by FSU basketball, cutting the Seminoles throughout the half and tying the game when C.J. Walker slammed it home for two of his 18 points.

UNC would get it back to within a point with just under a minute to go when Joel Berry finished off a steal and nailed a three pointer, part of eight straight points for the UNC star as 21 of his game high 28 came in the second half.

After Phil Cofer missed two free throws, UNC had another shot at the lead when Berry’s shot came up shot and the Seminoles got the rebound. But, FSU basketball would again miss two free throws and UNC had one final chance as their last second shot was nowhere close and the Seminoles won their 28th straight home game and broke their losing streak to the ACC foe.

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As 12-2 on the season, the Seminoles will now turn their focus to a third straight ranked ACC team to open conference play when they travel to Coral Gables for a showdown with the rival Miami Hurricanes. Tip off is scheduled for 6 p.m.