Posted by NoleCC

The Virginia Cavaliers utilized a 2-3 zone defense for the entire game. That strategy backfired as the Seminoles knocked down 11 of 20 three point attempts in defeating the Cavs 76-62.

More specifically it was Andrew Wilson leading the long bomb barrage. Wilson tied his career high for three point shots hitting 7 of 11 attempts to finish with a game high 21 points.

Several times this season Thursday Leonard Hamilton said Wilson needed to get the ball more and take advantage of his long range abilities. But Hamilton credited Wilson’s teammates in the game in looking for him. The head coach was very pleased with his teams passing and ball reversals that often gave Wilson wide open looks at the rim.’,'Joining Wilson in double figures Alexander Johnson with 15 points and earned his sixth double double of the season with 13 rebounds and added a career high five blocked shots. Todd Galloway finished with 12 and Ralph Mims and Al Thornton both with 10.

Hamilton was even more pleased with his team’s defense. The ‘Noles held Virginia to just 39% shooting and calling it “the best perimeter defense of the season” FSU allowed just 2 of 12 three pointers.

“We played aggressive defense”, Hamilton said. “We defended well and even though they out rebounded us (34-29) I thought we rebounded the ball well.”

That was reflected in holding UVa’s leading scorer, Sean Singletary to just 12 points. Adrian Joseph also finished with 12 and JR Reynolds was the only other Cavalier in double digits with 18.

An important win that pulls FSU back to .500 in the conference, Hamilton complimented his team on “their ability to bounce back” from the debacle at North Carolina State. It also puts FSU in a tie for four way tie for fifth place in the ACC.

The Seminoles never trailed in the game. After Jason Cain’s free throws tied the game 2-2, FSU went on a 22-9 run fueled by back to back threes by Wilson to lead 24-11 with 9:12 left in the half.

But the Tribe went a little cold and UVa scored the next eight points forcing Hamilton to call timeout at the 6:24 mark.

Galloway responded on offense and defense. Stealing the ball from Singletary, Galloway finished off the play with a short jumper and promptly stole the ball on the Cavs next possession taking it the distance himself.

Galloway later drove the ball deep converting a pull up five foot jump shot and then added a three with fifty seconds left to give FSU a 39-28 lead. Galloway preserved the halftime lead with again outstanding defense stealing the ball from Cain on a lob pass over Johnson to the post.

It was near perfect half for the ‘Noles in committing a season low 5 turnovers but forced UVa into 11 miscues leading to 13 points for FSU.

Virginia’s frontcourt was also saddled with foul trouble allowing Johnson operate efficiently in the paint despite numerous double and triple teams.

In the second half, the Cavs turned the ball over three times on their first three possessions while FSU proceeded to go on a 9-1 run to lead 48-29.

After the Cavs narrowed it to 48-36, Wilson hit a three from the right corner and for good measure added one from the left corner a minute later. Three more bombs from Wilson, Galloway, and Mims found their way thru the net as FSU rolled up the lead back to nineteen, 65-46, with 9:46 to play.

With FSU using clock time, he closest the Cavs could get was thirteen points. Wilson punctuated his game with a three from the left wing from way behind the arc with one minute left and a 76-60 lead.

Even with how satisfied Hamilton was with his team’s performance bouncing back from the disappointment in Raleigh, the head coach was immediately in next game mode. “What is important is how we respond Wednesday night”, he commented.

That game Wednesday is against one of the teams FSU is tied with in the conference. The Seminoles will host Maryland at 9:00 PM. The Terrapins joined he log jam by beating Georgia Tech in overtime on Saturday.