FSU basketball: Hot shooting Hokies roll past the Noles

FSU basketball (13-7, 6-4 ACC) lost its second straight ACC game with a 85-72 loss against Virginia Tech (11-10, 3-7 ACC) Saturday afternoon.

The Noles were without two starters, Malik Osborne and RayQuan Evans. Caleb Mills played limited minutes as he’s dealing with tonsilitis. It was a different team but the same narrative with FSU struggling with turnovers and getting lit up from three-point range.

FSU had eight turnovers in the first half, and Virginia Tech made nine three-pointers to hold a 39-31 lead at halftime. The Noles shot 50 percent from the floor and made 6 of 7 from the free-throw line.

The second half started with a quick 11-3 FSU run to tie 42-42 with 17:33 remaining. Virginia Tech continued to sizzle from beyond the arc, making 2 of 4 threes in the first fives minutes.

However, FSU kept attacking the rim with a John Butler “and1” opportunity to make the game at 49-48 with 15:08 remaining. A Naheem McLeod dunk gave the Noles their first 50-49 lead with 14:37 remaining.

However, Virginia Tech made a three-pointer on their next possession while getting fouled. The free throw gave the Hokies the 53-50 lead with 14:05 remaining. A Virginia Tech three-pointer made it 58-54 with 10:32 remaining.

Two Cameron Fletcher free-throws cut VT’s lead to 60-58 with 7:56 remaining. Back-to-back Virginia Tech three-pointers push the lead to 68-60 with 6:30 remaining.

The Noles never got closer as the barrage from three continued, with Virginia Tech making three more to make it 76-60 with 4:32 remaining. Virginia Tech had made 17 of 24 three-pointers with four minutes remaining. The absence of Osborne defending at the top of the key was a key contributing in Virginia Tech’s shooting success. FSU basketball will be back in action when they travel to Clemson next Wednesday.