Freshman Matthew Cleveland scored 20 points and hit a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift Florida State to a 64-63 upset victory over Virginia on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, Va.
Cleveland, who has been a bright spot for Florida State (15-13, 8-10 Atlantic Coast Conference) during its rough patch over the past month, caught a perfect nearly three-quarter court inbounds pass from walk-on senior Harrison Prieto. Cleveland quickly turned his body and fired the shot to lift the Seminoles, who again played without three key starters, to only their second win in their past 10 games.
The loss was the third in the past four games for the Cavaliers (17-12, 11-8) and a very damaging one for their fading NCAA Tournament hopes.
Virginia thought it had the victory in hand when Armaan Franklin’s pull-up jumper from just beyond the free-throw line with four-tenths of a second put it ahead 63-61. Officials put a full second on the clock after review, which gave Cleveland enough time to catch and shoot.
Cleveland, who scored in double figures for the seventh consecutive game, went 8 for 14 from the field, but the winning shot was his only made three-pointer.
Prieto was Florida State’s other double-digit scorer, finishing with 14 points and six rebounds.
Jayden Gardner finished with a game-high 21 points and totaled six rebounds to lead the Cavaliers, who led by as many as 11 points in the second half. Francisco Caffaro also had 11 rebounds.
Trailing 60-56 with 45 seconds, Cleveland’s jumper and subsequent free throw cut Virginia’s lead to one.
Jalen Warley then stole the ball at midcourt, but turned the ball over when he attempted a lead pass to John Butler. Franklin, who scored 13 points, was fouled by Butler after recovering the loose ball, but made only one of two free throws.
Cleveland then scored on a runner high off the glass to tie the game at 61 with 5.5 seconds remaining in regulation.
–Field Level Media