KEY POINTS
- Florida State held off a massive 24-point comeback attempt to defeat Pittsburgh 75-74.
- Chauncey Wiggins and Lajae Jones combined for 36 points to lead the Seminoles’ offensive effort.
- The win improves Florida State’s ACC record to 9-8 while Pitt faces a must-win season finale.
The Florida State Seminoles escaped with a narrow 75-74 victory over the Pittsburgh Panthers on Wednesday night. Playing at the Petersen Events Center, Florida State utilized a dominant first-half performance to build a significant lead. However, they had to withstand a furious late-game rally from the Panthers to secure the road win. The result moves the Seminoles to 16-14 overall and 9-8 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
Florida State dictated the tempo from the opening tip with highly efficient shooting from the perimeter. Chauncey Wiggins sparked the offense early, connecting on four of his seven attempts from three-point range. The Seminoles closed the first half on a 17-8 scoring run to take a 46-30 lead into the locker room. This cushion proved vital as the team faced a completely different defensive challenge after the intermission.
Lajae Jones matched Wiggins with 18 points of his own to provide a balanced scoring attack for the visitors. Robert McCray V added 14 points, including two clutch free throws in the final seconds to keep the game out of reach. Florida State shot 60.7 percent from the field in the first half before cooling off significantly in the second period. The team’s ability to build an early 24-point lead ultimately saved them from a historic collapse.
Pitt’s second-half resurgence was led by senior Barry Dunning Jr., who delivered a magnificent 26-point performance. Dunning also grabbed 10 rebounds to record a double-double on his final home game for the Panthers. The home side outscored Florida State 44-29 in the second half by shooting over 53 percent from beyond the arc. Despite the momentum shift, the Panthers fell just one point short of completing the largest comeback in program history.
Damarco Minor provided a dramatic finish for the home crowd by hitting a three-pointer at the buzzer. Minor finished with 10 points and 10 assists to record his first double-double of the season. Former Seminole Cameron Corhen also contributed 14 points for Pitt while facing his old teammates. The loss drops the Panthers to 11-19 overall and places their postseason eligibility in immediate jeopardy.
The Seminoles showed great resilience by handling the ball well during the closing minutes of the contest. They limited their turnovers and found enough scoring to counter the Panthers’ perimeter onslaught. This victory marks Florida State’s eighth win in their last ten games as they peak heading into the tournament. The coaching staff emphasized the importance of their early offensive efficiency in securing this difficult road result.
For Pittsburgh, the focus now shifts entirely to their upcoming regular-season finale against Syracuse. The Panthers must win that game to secure a bid to the ACC Tournament and extend their season. Coach Jeff Capel praised his players’ fight but noted that the early defensive lapses were too much to overcome. The emotions of Senior Night were evident as the players fell just short of a miraculous win.
Florida State will conclude their regular season at home against SMU this Saturday. A win there could further improve their seeding and provide a first-round bye in the conference tournament. Both teams are now dealing with the high-stakes pressure of March basketball as every possession carries season-defining weight. The Seminoles leave Pittsburgh with a hard-earned victory and a sense of relief.
