Miami Falls to Florida State in Hard-Fought Battle
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The University of Miami men’s basketball team put up a fight but ultimately fell 74-66 to Florida State on Wednesday night at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
Kidd’s Standout Performance
Leading the charge for the Hurricanes was center Lynn Kidd, who posted his sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and 11 rebounds. His effort kept Miami competitive throughout, but the Seminoles pulled away late.
A Historic Matchup for Leonard Hamilton
The game carried extra significance as it likely marked the final time Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton faced his former team. Hamilton, who led Miami from 1990-2000, took the Hurricanes to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in his final season. He is set to retire at the end of this campaign.
It was also an emotional night for Miami senior Matthew Cleveland, who played against his former school for the last time in the regular season.
Neck-and-Neck First Half
Miami came out distributing the ball efficiently, recording 10 assists on 11 made field goals in the first half. Six different Hurricanes found their way onto the scoreboard, with Kidd leading the way with eight points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting.
The first 20 minutes were tightly contested, featuring five ties and three lead changes, as neither team could crack 45% shooting from the field. Redshirt junior A.J. Staton-McCray converted two clutch free throws in the final seconds of the half, sending the teams into the break knotted at 31-31.
Seminoles Take Control Late
The battle remained fierce early in the second half, with no team leading by more than four points in the first ten minutes. However, a 3-pointer by FSU’s AJ Swinton at the 9:20 mark ignited a 10-2 Seminoles run, pushing them ahead 55-47 with eight minutes to play.
Miami continued to fight back, and freshman Divine Ugochukwu cut the deficit to just five points (67-62) with 56 seconds left. But Florida State held its composure at the free-throw line, sealing the victory in the closing moments.
What’s Next?
The Hurricanes return home to Coral Gables for a showdown against Virginia Tech on Saturday at the Watsco Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. ET, with the game airing live on ACC Network.
