Ian Miller helps FSU rally past Virginia 63-60
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP)-Ian Miller made a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds left and No. 22 Florida State rallied from 11 points down in the last 4 1/2 minutes to stun No. 24 Virginia 63-60 on Thursday night, spoiling a stellar Senior Night for the Cavaliers' Mike Scott.
Miller scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half, and got just free enough from Sammy Zeglinski in the final seconds to make the shot from deep in the right wing. It was Miller's fifth 3-pointer and the seventh for the Seminoles (20-9, 11-4 Atlantic Coast Conference).
Scott scored 28 points, his career high in an ACC game, for the Cavaliers (21-8, 8-7), who lost for the first time in 18 games when scoring 60 points. Jontel Evans added 10 points for Virginia, which played with only seven scholarship players available to coach Tony Bennett.
Michael Snaer and Xavier Gibson added 12 points each for the Seminoles.
The Cavaliers seemed to have the game in hand, leading 58-47 with 4 1/2 minutes left, but Snaer hit a pair of free throws to end a 13-3 run by Virginia. Miller followed with a three-point play after a Virginia turnover, and made a 3-pointer after an offensive foul by the Cavaliers.
That made it 58-55 and, after Evans hit two free throws for Virginia, Snaer made a 10-foot floater and Deividas Dulkys made a 3-pointer, his only basket of the night, to tie it with 1:49 remaining. Neither team scored again until Florida State called a timeout with about 30 seconds to play, worked the ball to Miller hands and he lost Zeglinski just enough to make a line-drive basket.
A 3-point heave by Zeglinski, also playing his final home game at Virginia, was well off the mark at the buzzer.
The Cavaliers trailed 29-20 at halftime and 31-20 and Gibson's basket to start the second half, then went on an 18-4 run as their other scorers came alive. Scott had only four points in the burst, Joe Harris hit a pair of 3-pointers and Zeglinski hit his first of the night.
Snaer ended the run, but Scott scored the Cavaliers' next three baskets as they opened a 45-40 advantage.
A free throw by Gibson and Miller's 3-pointer pulled the Seminoles to 45-44, but Gibson was called for goaltending on Zeglinski's drive, and Scott followed a miss by Florida State with a fadeaway from about 17 feet. Miller stopped Virginia's run with another 3-pointer, but then Harris hit two free throws after being fouled on a fast break, Zeglinski made a 3-pointer and a bizarre sequence cost the Seminoles dearly.
Almost.
After a steal by Zeglinski, he turned it over at the other end and the Seminoles tried a deep pass down court. Harris gave chase and ran into Bernard James, sending both to the floor hard, with Harris on top of James' foot. He pulled it out and kicked Harris, and the crowd went wild.
After watching the replay and consulting, the officials ejected James, and Scott made a pair of free throws for the flagrant foul, making it 56-57. He then drew a fifth foul on Okaro White, disqualifying White, and made both ends of a one-and-one to give Virginia a 58-47 lead.
Virginia didn't make another basket, losing its seventh straight to Florida State and for the 10th time in 11 games.
The Cavaliers had only seven scholarship players available because reserve guard Malcolm Brogdon sat out with a foot injury. Three of the players available to Bennett picked up two fouls before halftime, and Virginia stayed in it by converting nine Seminoles turnovers into 10 points.