Robert McCray V led all scorers with 20 points, and Chauncey Wiggins added 10 in Florida State's 65-63 victory against the Miami Hurricanes at the Watsco Center. McCray has now scored 20 or more points in three games this season and has finished in double-figure scoring in six consecutive games.
His 20 points set a new personal single-game ACC scoring record. Wiggins finished in double figures for the 13th time this season. Head coach Luke Loucks picked up his first career ACC win. Loucks became the third Seminole head coach to gain his first career ACC win on the road.
Florida State improved to 8-11 and 1-5 in ACC play. Miami fell to 15-4 and 4-2 in the ACC. The Seminoles' bench played a pivotal role in their victory, outscoring the Hurricanes in that category 20-5. Florida State has won the bench scoring battle in its last six ACC games.
McCray V fought through contact to score the first points of the game. In addition to his 20-point night, McCray V finished with a team-high four assists and four rebounds. McCray V has led the team in assists in all but two games this season.
Miami took a 10-7 lead with 15:03 left to play in the first half. The Seminoles would go on a 6-0 run, sparked by a 3-point shot from AJ Swinton, and took a 13-10 lead at the 13:57 mark. Florida State trailed 23-17 with 8:31 remaining in the half. Thomas Bassong made two free throws, and Kobe MaGee made a 3-point shot to cut the lead to one, 23-22.
MaGee finished the game with two made 3-point shots. He has now finished with multiple 3-point shots made in five of his last six games and in 11 games this season. The Hurricanes would extend the lead to 32-26 with under five minutes in the half. Florida State scored five straight points off Miami turnovers to cut the lead to one, 32-31.
Miami held a two-point lead with eight seconds in the half before MaGee beat the buzzer with a made 3-point shot to give Florida State a one-point lead at halftime. The Seminoles entered the half with a 38-37 lead. Florida State trailed 44-43 at the 16:49 mark of the second half. The Seminoles would then go on a quick 6-0 run to take a 49-44 lead.
Wiggins scored five of the six points during that span. Miami cut the Florida State lead to three, 56-53, with 6:33 remaining in the game. A Wiggins turnaround jumper extended the Seminoles' lead to five, their largest lead of the second half. Florida State held a 60-58 lead with just over four minutes remaining in the game. Three straight made free throws from McCray V extended the Florida State lead back to five.
The Hurricanes would tie the game at 63 with 20 seconds left. McCray V would respond by drawing a foul and making two free throws to ice the game. After recording 10 rebounds against Wake Forest, Lajae Jones grabbed a game-high nine rebounds against Miami. He has now led the Seminoles in rebounds in consecutive games for the first time this season. His nine rebounds broke the 300 career rebound plateau.
The Seminoles travel to Dallas to take on SMU on Saturday, January 24, at 4:00 p.m.
