PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Lajae Jones and Chauncey Wiggins scored 18 points to lead the Florida State men’s basketball team in its 75-74 victory against the Pitt Panthers at the Petersen Events Center. Wiggins has now finished with double-figures for three consecutive games. He also finished the game with a team-high four made 3-point shots. Wiggins has made four or more 3-point shots in four games this season. Jones finished in double-figure scoring for the 20th time this season and made three 3-point shots. He mas made three or more 3-point shots in six games during his first season as a Seminole.
Florida State improved to 16-14 and 9-8 in the ACC. Pitt fell to 11-19 overall and 4-13 in ACC play.
The Seminoles rode an outstanding first-half performance to their ninth ACC win of the season. In the first half, Florida State shot 60% from the field and 57% from behind the 3-point line (8-14).
Florida State also controlled the paint as they outscored Pitt 32-24 in the painted area. The Seminoles have now outscored their opponent inside the paint in back-to-back games.
The Seminoles held an 8-5 lead with 17:37 remaining in the first half.
A put-back dunk from AJ Swinton sparked a 12-3 run that would put Florida State ahead 20-8 with just under 13 minutes to play in the half.
Pitt would cut the Florida State lead to seven, 29-22, with 6:25 to play. Thomas Bassong would make a layup to spark an 8-0 run, capped by a made 3-point shot from Martin Somerville.
Bassong finished with eight points and a team-high eight rebounds. He has now led the team in rebounds in consecutive games and has done so for the first time this season.
Freshman Cam Miles would bank in a 3-point shot to beat the buzzer and extend the Florida State lead to 16 heading into halftime.
The Seminoles led the Panthers 46-30 at halftime.
Robert McCray V would open the second half by finishing a layup through contact and Wiggins would follow with another 3-point make to extend the Florida State lead to 21, 51-30.
McCray V finished the game with 12 points, six rebounds, a team-high six assists, and a team-high two steals. He has finished in double-digit scoring 26 times this season and has led the team in assists in five straight games.
The Seminoles would hold off the Panthers as Pitt would cut the Florida State lead to two, 73-71, with 11 seconds to play.
McCray V sank two free throws to close out Florida State’s ninth ACC win.
The Seminoles return to the Tucker Center to take on the SMU Mustangs in their final regular-season game on Saturday, March 7, at 2:00 p.m.