Everyone predicted that this would be an ugly game, and everyone was right. Of course, with two offenses ranked worse than 80th against two defenses in the top-10, that prediction wasn't a hard one to make. In a matchup between two ranked teams the Seminoles defense was at their best and the offense did just enough to win. The final was 58-55, and the game was every bit as close as the final score.
FSU won their 7th straight ACC game for the first time in school history, and extended their best conference start to 7-1.
The two teams combined for 40 turnovers (Virginia had 21 and FSU had 19) in a 63 possession game. But the Noles extended 8 possessions with offensive boards, while UVA only grabbed four. These small in-game differences bought FSU some key possessions, and then the Noles were able to make just enough free throws down the stretch to put the game away.
In the first half FSU repeatedly kept forcing passes into the post which resulted in turnovers. Not only were many of them on bad angles, but they were often into double and even triple teams as most of the UVA defense plays within a step of the paint. That was changed in the second half, and FSUs post players would get position high in the lane for a lob over the top. Unfortunately, the execution wasn't there. Several more turnovers ensued, including a crucial one with FSU up a possession with :38 seconds left. FSU's defense got a stop, Deividas Dulkys made a free throw to push the lead to two possessions. Malcolm Brogdon made a three to cut the lead to 3 points with :02 seconds left. Michael Snaer missed the front end of a one-and-one, and UVA's desperation heave bounced off the front rim. Noles win.
Okaro White had his best game of the season with 13 points on 5-6 shooting and 5 rebounds, including three on the offensive end. Xavier Gibson was the only other Seminole player in double figures with 10. FSU made 5-12 from beyond the arc (41.7%), extending their conference leading 3-point shooting.
Inside, a couple of videos. The crowd was lively.
FSU UVA LAST SHOT (via onebarrelrum)
FSU UVA DEFENSE (via onebarrelrum)