Noles outlast Wake Forest in double OT

With 11 minutes to go in the first half, the Noles trailed 19-4.  To that point Wake Forest had been the beneficiary of some better than normal shooting, and FSU had been getting good looks but the ball was rolling off the rim. So it seemed like things would improve. But seven minutes later Wake still held a double digit advantage at 29-17, and it looked like it might not be FSU's night.

Then a 10-4 run cut the lead to just six at halftime.

A few minutes into the second half, with Wake up 41-36, Xavier Rathan-Mayes triggered FSU's next big run. First he scored on an athletic, twisting layup. Then he found Brandon Allen for his first three of the year. After an XRM jumper he made a nifty pass in transition to Bookert in the left corner, who nailed the three, giving FSU it's first lead of the game.

Down the stretch the lead changed hands six times. With 30 seconds left and FSU clinging to a 2-point advantage, Montay tried to ice the game in transition but missed a contested layup. Cody Miller-McIntyre, who was brilliant all night, knocked down a jumper on the other end and it was overtime.

The first OT saw three lead changes, and FSU held Wake scoreless over the final 1:20 to force a second overtime. The Noles could have won it after a Boris Bojanovsky rebound, but he kicked the ball out in the final seconds, likely thinking that the ball had hit the rim. But it hadn't, and FSU had to force a wild shot, giving Wake a chance for the win. But the defense held.

Wake Forest took a three point lead in the second OT, but inspired play by Phil Cofer and the back court trio of XRM, Devon Bookert, and Montay Brandon fueled a 7-1 run by the Noles, and then Bojo iced it with a timely steal. At that point Wake could only foul, and the Seminoles held on for the win.

FSU (11-10, 3-5) is now tied with Pitt in the conference standings.

XRM led the team with 21 points and five assists. He did commit five turnovers, which is his high in ACC play. Phil Cofer had 19 points and eight boards, and Devon Bookert - who played all but one minute - made 3-4 threes on his way to 15 points and four steals. Boris Bojanovsky had four blocks to pass Mike Mathews and Doug Edwards for 7th on the all time list at FSU. Bojo also had seven rebounds and two steals.

The Noles next play on Sunday when they host No. 23 Miami at the Tuck.