FSU Comes Out on Top in Thriller in Tallahassee

In the second game of the season between Florida State and Georgia Tech, it is clear that the Seminole's game plan largely involved stopping Gani Lawal. Lawal is Tech's leading scorer and rebounder and the most experienced player on the Georgia Tech roster. FSU succeeded in limiting Lawal's production and just barely held off the rest of the Yellow Jackets to come away with a 68-66 win.

It was a physical game from the beginning between Tech's big men (Lawal, Zach Peacock, and Derrick Favors) and Florida State's big men (Chris Singleton, Solomon Alabi, and Ryan Reid). The Seminoles jumped out to an 8-0 lead and Tech stormed back to tie it at 10. After that, it was a see-saw battle until the final seconds.

Glen Rice, Jr. and Brian Oliver, two of the less heralded freshmen in Tech's freshman class, came up huge for the Yellow Jackets. In the first half, Oliver hit 4 3-pointers and finished 6 for 13 from long range. Rice did the little things by coming up with 4 steals and 3 assist off the bench. Lawal had only 5 points on 1 for 5 shooting and 3 for 8 from the foul line.

Chris Singleton paced the Seminoles with 23 points but was not in the game at the end with minor cramps. Down 66-65 with 30 seconds to go, Ryan Reid, who earlier missed several minutes after a collision with Lawal, drove to the basket and got called for a charge against Peacock. Peacock then missed the first of a 1 and 1 and Alabi was fouled on the rebound effort, and he made both free throws. On Tech's final possession, Oliver missed a 3 but Bell got the offensive rebound. After a timeout, Lawal missed a tough layup and Shumpert missed the put back. With 3 seconds to go, FSU added another free throw and Tech couldn't get the ball in bounds afterward.

Turnovers were a problem for both teams as Tech committer 20 and FSU 18. Free throws were again a sore spot for Tech, hitting just 11 of 22.

It's just another day in the ACC. Tech falls to 14-5, 3-3 in the ACC and plays Wake Forest Thursday. Florida State improves to 15-4 and 3-2 and goes to Duke Wednesday night.