Inside the box score: Miami 81, FSU 77

1. The loss dropped FSU to 7-9 in conference play. Along with Duke, Florida State is the only ACC program to have avoided a losing conference record in the past seven years. To keep that streak going, the Noles will have to win their final two regular season games.

2. Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 35 points, including a remarkable 26 in a 3 1/2 minute stretch. During that stretch he broke Bob Sura's freshman scoring record at Florida State (380 points). He has now scored 402. His per game average of 14.4 is over two points higher than Sura, who scored 12.3 as a frosh in 1991-92. XRM has now scored 35 points twice in ACC play. Only three other Seminoles (Bob Sura, Al Thornton, Ron Hale) have scored 35 or more against an ACC opponent.

3. Montay Brandon scored 11 points, and made 4-5 shots. Against Miami this season he made 11 of his 12 shot attempts (92%).

4. FSU's gameplan was to take away the 3-pointer from Miami, who attempt more 3s than any other ACC team. FSU switched everything and held the Canes to 4-16 from the arc. Unfortunately, Miami was able to use this to create mismatches, and from there their execution was nearly flawless.

5. FSU lost 81-77 in a 67 possession game. FSU's defense had been playing exceptional basketball over the previous four weeks, but last night's 1.21 scored per possession by Miami was the most by an FSU opponent since the Notre Dame game on December 13th. Florida State did manage to score 1.15 per possession against Miami, which was FSU's 2nd highest total in ACC play.