Seminoles Pull Away in Second Half, Defeat Hokies 92–69 (2-14-26)

By: Joey Raymond 

Headline Photo Credit: Brent Butler-LMS Network

The Virginia Tech Hokies men’s basketball battled through a fast-paced, tightly contested first half, but a dominant surge after the break lifted the Florida State Seminoles men’s basketballto a 92–69 victory Saturday night.

First Half: Hokies Trade Punches Early

The game opened at a sprint. Florida State struck first with a deep three from Thomas Bassong, but Ben Hammond immediately answered with a triple of his own to set the tone for a high-energy opening stretch.

Virginia Tech found success attacking the paint early. Neo Avdalis and Tobi Lawal each drew fouls on aggressive drives, while Jailen Bedford added a bucket to help the Hokies edge ahead 7–5.

Both teams then settled into a rhythm offensively. Amani Hansberry provided interior scoring for Tech, while Florida State countered with perimeter shooting from Martin Somerville and Robert McCray. Hammond stayed hot from beyond the arc, and Lawal stretched the floor with a three of his own as the teams traded baskets.

By the midway point of the half, Virginia Tech held a 21–15 advantage, but Florida State kept within striking distance behind baskets from McCray, Chauncey Wiggins, and AJ Swinton. Every Hokie run seemed to draw an immediate response from the Seminoles.

The back-and-forth continued late into the half. Bassong knocked down another open three and Swinton followed with a contested triple to tie the game at 34–34. Virginia Tech answered with authority — Bedford hit from deep, Avdalis followed with a three, and Lawal turned a steal into a momentum-swinging dunk.

Florida State managed one final basket before the horn, but the Hokies carried a 42–39 lead into halftime after an entertaining first 20 minutes defined by pace, shooting, and constant momentum swings.

Second Half: Florida State Takes Control

The game flipped quickly after the break.

Florida State opened the half with free throws from McCray and a layup from Lajae Jones to erase the deficit and tie the game. The teams briefly traded scores, with Avdalis drilling a key three and Hansberry converting at the line, but Florida State soon began to dictate the tempo.

Jones powered home a dunk, McCray converted at the stripe, and Wiggins added a basket to give the Seminoles their first sustained lead of the half. From there, Florida State’s offense exploded.

Somerville sparked the surge, scoring from all three levels — inside, midrange, and from deep — as the Seminoles strung together a decisive run. Bassong added a transition finish, Wiggins connected from long range, and the lead quickly ballooned into double digits.

Virginia Tech tried to answer behind Bedford’s drives and Hansberry’s free throws, but the Hokies struggled to string together stops. Florida State continued to push the pace, knocking down open looks and capitalizing in transition to stretch the lead to 80–60.

From that point on, the Seminoles remained firmly in control, closing out the contest with authority to secure the 92–69 win.