by Kennedy Knisley, FSU Communications
TALLAHASSEE, FL (seminoles.com) – Florida State’s RayQuan Evans (Crow Tribe) made two free throws with 0.8 seconds remaining to lift Florida State to a 65-64 win over ACC leading Miami at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Evans was fouled by Miami’s Charlie Moore as he drove to the basket and made both free throws to give the Seminoles the win. Miami’s last second attempt at a shot was taken after the final buzzer had sounded.
Florida State’s victory marked its eighth consecutive win over the Hurricanes. The Seminoles have won each of the games played between the two teams since a 101-90 win over the Hurricanes on January 27, 2018. The Seminoles’ win also snapped a nine-game winning streak for the Hurricanes, who entered the game with a perfect 5-0 record in ACC play.
The lead change hands three times in the final 27 seconds of the game.
Florida State’s Malik Osborne hit a 3-pointer late in the shot clock to give FSU a 63-61 lead with 27 seconds left. Moore missed a driving layup on the other end, but Jordan Miller grabbed the offensive rebound off his own missed put-back attempt and kicked it out to Moore in the corner for a 3-point shot to give Miami a one-point lead with seven seconds to go. Evans was then fouled by Moore on a driving lay-up attempt and made the winning free throws.
Evans finished the game with 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. His two free throws to win the game were his first two free throws of the game.
Freshman Mathew Cleveland led Florida State with 15 points to mark his fourth consecutive double figure scoring effort. He is now averaging 10.8 points per game and is the ACC leader in scoring amongst all players who have not started a game this season.
In his 100th career game, Osborne scored seven points and pulled down eight rebounds. He is averaging a career-high 11.1 points and a career-high 7.3 rebounds. Osborne has scored in double figures in nine games and has pulled down seven or more rebounds in nine different games this season.
His 3-point shot with under 30 seconds remaining in the game was his first three of the game after two missed shots earlier in the game.
It was a game of rallies for the Seminoles who gained their third ACC win of the season.
Florida State rallied from an eight-point deficit at the under-twelve minute media timeout (15-7) and cut the Hurricane’s lead to just one at the half at 29-28.
The second half was back and forth offensively and defensively on both ends as the Hurricanes maintained a lead through much of the half. Miami was up 61-58 with just 2:00 remaining in the game.
Redshirt senior Anthony Polite made two free throws and Osborne scored from long distance to put Florida State up 61-63 with 27 seconds remaining.
With a team eight steals, Florida State continues to lead the ACC in steals with a 9.9 steals per game average.
