Vassell's 3-pointers send Florida State over Virginia Tech
AP
Feb 01, 2020
BLACKSBURG, Va. (AP) Devin Vassell was too ramped up trying to help No. 5 Florida State Seminoles beat Virginia Tech Hokies to realize he was earning himself a place in the ACC record book.
''Not at all,'' Vassell said. ''Coming to the bench, people just said, `Just keep shooting if you're open. You're hot, you're hot.' My teammates kept finding me, and we kept running plays that were getting me open. Give credit to the coaches, and I'm just thankful for that.''
He may not have been aware, but everyone else knew he was in the midst of a special afternoon.
Vassell tied an ACC mark by shooting 7 for 7 from 3-point range and scored 27 points to lift the No. 5 Seminoles to a 74-63 victory over the Hokies on Saturday.
Vassell and the Seminoles (18-3, 8-2) rebounded from Tuesday night's loss at Virginia that snapped a 10-game winning streak. Florida State remained a game out of first place in the ACC standings.
The Seminoles led for much of the first half, were ahead 34-29 at the break and held the lead the rest of the way. Florida State grabbed a 60-44 advantage on a free throw by Trent Forrest with 9:25 remaining before the Hokies scored the next nine points. They cut the lead to 60-53 on a dunk by Nahiem Alleyne with 6:23 left, but got no closer.
Tyrece Radford paced the Hokies (14-8, 5-6) with 18 points. Virginia Tech lost its third consecutive game.
''I'm not going to make excuses,'' Virginia Tech coach Mike Young said. ''You've got to find ways to win. We are in a bit of a hole here, but as I told them after the game, we control everything . Play better basketball. Find ways to win. Come back over here tomorrow and fight again. Get to Georgia Tech and play a little bit better.''
Vassell connected on his first six shots from the floor -- five 3-pointers -- and made 8 of 10 for the game. He was the lone Florida State player in double figures, but 10 different Seminoles scored and seven scored at least seven points.
''We had a lot of guys contribute a little bit,'' Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. ''That's kind of who we are. We win games by committee. I thought that really made a difference. We had everyone basically contributing in some kind of way, and Devin just happened to be our lead dog tonight. It's been that way all year. It always seems to be somebody else stepping up. That's who we are as a team.''
BIG PICTURE
Florida State: The Seminoles have all the traits needed to make a deep NCAA Tournament run. They feature a deep roster, have forced more turnovers than any team in the ACC, and possess on underrated star in Vassell, who has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games. He is averaging 17.6 points per game in that span.
Virginia Tech: When the Hokies don't hit 3-pointers, they struggle, and that happened again Saturday. Virginia Tech made just 7 of 30 from beyond the arc against the Seminoles. In their three-game losing streak, the Hokies are shooting just 30.1% (22 of 73) from 3-point range.
MORE ON VASSELL'S RECORD-TYING GAME
Vassell now shares the ACC record for 3-point percentage in a game (minimum of seven) with three other players - former N.C. State standout Allerick Freeman and former Florida State perimeter players Sam Cassell and James Collins. Freeman's 7 of 7 performance came in NC State's overtime win over North Carolina in 2018.
''He was extremely productive,'' Hamilton said of Vassell. ''But I thought his energy was infectious, and I thought it motivated and ignited the rest of our players as well.''
UP NEXT
Florida State: The Seminoles play at home against North Carolina on Monday.
Virginia Tech: The Hokies take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Tuesday.
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1st Half
FSU
Seminoles
34
VT
Hokies
29
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Virginia Tech
19:54
P.J. Horne missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:52
Offensive rebound by Tyrece Radford
19:18
Nahiem Alleyne missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:16
Defensive rebound by Malik Osborne
19:08
Raiquan Gray missed jump shot
19:06
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
18:55
Landers Nolley II missed jump shot
18:53
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
18:44
Lost ball turnover on Anthony Polite, stolen by Tyrece Radford
18:02
+2
Tyrece Radford made layup
0-2
17:49
+2
Raiquan Gray made layup, assist by Devin Vassell
2-2
17:20
+2
Tyrece Radford made layup
2-4
16:58
Shooting foul on Tyrece Radford
16:58
Malik Osborne missed 1st of 2 free throws
16:58
+1
Malik Osborne made 2nd of 2 free throws
3-4
16:42
Tyrece Radford missed layup, blocked by Trent Forrest
16:40
Offensive rebound by Virginia Tech
16:29
Tyrece Radford missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:26
Defensive rebound by Anthony Polite
16:22
Dominik Olejniczak missed jump shot
16:20
Defensive rebound by Tyrece Radford
15:29
P.J. Horne missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:27
Defensive rebound by Anthony Polite
15:11
Anthony Polite missed layup, blocked by P.J. Horne
15:09
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
15:09
Lost ball turnover on Nahiem Alleyne, stolen by Dominik Olejniczak
15:09
Patrick Williams missed dunk
15:07
Defensive rebound by P.J. Horne
14:59
Wabissa Bede missed layup, blocked by Anthony Polite
14:57
Defensive rebound by Dominik Olejniczak
14:56
+3
Devin Vassell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trent Forrest
6-4
14:33
Lost ball turnover on Tyrece Radford
14:09
Dominik Olejniczak missed jump shot
14:07
Defensive rebound by Landers Nolley II
13:57
Nahiem Alleyne missed jump shot
13:55
Defensive rebound by Dominik Olejniczak
13:47
Trent Forrest missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:45
Defensive rebound by Landers Nolley II
13:32
Landers Nolley II missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:30
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
13:17
+2
Patrick Williams made jump shot
8-4
12:47
Wabissa Bede missed jump shot, blocked by Dominik Olejniczak
12:45
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
12:32
Patrick Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:28
Defensive rebound by Landers Nolley II
12:26
Personal foul on Patrick Williams
12:23
Lost ball turnover on Wabissa Bede, stolen by Trent Forrest
12:16
+3
Wyatt Wilkes made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rayquan Evans
11-4
11:55
Hunter Cattoor missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:53
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
11:45
Wyatt Wilkes missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:43
Defensive rebound by Virginia Tech
11:18
Bad pass turnover on Isaiah Wilkins
11:01
+2
Devin Vassell made jump shot
13-4
10:36
+3
Jalen Cone made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Wabissa Bede
13-7
10:11
+3
Devin Vassell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Rayquan Evans
16-7
9:42
+2
Hunter Cattoor made layup
16-9
9:27
+2
Balsa Koprivica made layup, assist by Wyatt Wilkes
18-9
9:06
Isaiah Wilkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:04
Defensive rebound by Wyatt Wilkes
8:59
Lost ball turnover on Rayquan Evans
8:44
+2
Isaiah Wilkins made layup, assist by Hunter Cattoor
18-11
8:37
Balsa Koprivica missed jump shot
8:35
Defensive rebound by Isaiah Wilkins
8:22
+2
Hunter Cattoor made jump shot
18-13
7:58
+2
Wyatt Wilkes made layup, assist by Devin Vassell
20-13
7:32
+3
Hunter Cattoor made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Wabissa Bede
20-16
7:16
Raiquan Gray missed jump shot
7:14
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
6:53
Jalen Cone missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:51
Offensive rebound by John Ojiako
6:32
+3
Hunter Cattoor made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Wabissa Bede
20-19
6:26
+3
Wyatt Wilkes made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Balsa Koprivica
23-19
5:59
Hunter Cattoor missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:57
Defensive rebound by Devin Vassell
5:52
+3
Devin Vassell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Wyatt Wilkes
26-19
5:39
+2
Tyrece Radford made layup
26-21
5:15
Anthony Polite missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:13
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
5:02
+2
Landers Nolley II made jump shot
26-23
4:39
Patrick Williams missed jump shot
4:37
Defensive rebound by Tyrece Radford
4:27
Landers Nolley II missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:24
Defensive rebound by Florida State
4:07
+3
Devin Vassell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trent Forrest
29-23
3:30
Lost ball turnover on Landers Nolley II
3:17
+3
Devin Vassell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Anthony Polite
32-23
2:52
Landers Nolley II missed jump shot
2:50
Defensive rebound by Florida State
2:36
Lost ball turnover on Patrick Williams, stolen by Hunter Cattoor
2:25
+2
Landers Nolley II made layup
32-25
2:14
Anthony Polite missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:12
Defensive rebound by Virginia Tech
1:51
Wabissa Bede missed layup
1:49
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
1:38
+2
Trent Forrest made layup
34-25
1:11
+2
Tyrece Radford made jump shot, assist by Wabissa Bede
34-27
39.0
Offensive foul on Dominik Olejniczak
39.0
Turnover on Dominik Olejniczak
24.0
+2
Tyrece Radford made jump shot, assist by Landers Nolley II
34-29
10.0
Personal foul on Tyrece Radford
9.0
Personal foul on Wabissa Bede
8.0
Personal foul on Nahiem Alleyne
1.0
Patrick Williams missed jump shot
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
FSU
Seminoles
40
VT
Hokies
34
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:43
P.J. Horne missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:41
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
19:26
+2
Trent Forrest made turnaround jump shot
36-29
18:54
+2
Tyrece Radford made layup, assist by Nahiem Alleyne
36-31
18:38
Devin Vassell missed jump shot
18:36
Defensive rebound by Landers Nolley II
18:21
Landers Nolley II missed layup, blocked by Devin Vassell
18:19
Defensive rebound by Devin Vassell
18:16
+2
Anthony Polite made layup
38-31
18:16
Shooting foul on Wabissa Bede
18:16
Anthony Polite missed free throw
18:16
Defensive rebound by Tyrece Radford
17:55
+3
Nahiem Alleyne made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Wabissa Bede
38-34
17:36
Anthony Polite missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:34
Offensive rebound by Raiquan Gray
17:07
Anthony Polite missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:18
Defensive rebound by P.J. Horne
17:18
Landers Nolley II missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:16
Defensive rebound by Malik Osborne
17:07
+3
Devin Vassell made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Anthony Polite
41-34
16:52
Bad pass turnover on Tyrece Radford, stolen by Raiquan Gray
16:44
Anthony Polite missed jump shot
16:42
Defensive rebound by P.J. Horne
16:32
P.J. Horne missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:30
Offensive rebound by Landers Nolley II
16:28
Personal foul on Anthony Polite
16:22
Lost ball turnover on Landers Nolley II
16:19
+2
Rayquan Evans made layup
43-34
15:52
+2
Landers Nolley II made jump shot, assist by Wabissa Bede
43-36
15:33
+3
Raiquan Gray made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trent Forrest
46-36
15:22
Lost ball turnover on Landers Nolley II, stolen by Raiquan Gray
15:13
Personal foul on Nahiem Alleyne
14:57
Bad pass turnover on Wyatt Wilkes, stolen by Wabissa Bede
14:52
+2
Wabissa Bede made layup
46-38
14:32
+2
Rayquan Evans made jump shot
48-38
13:59
+2
Isaiah Wilkins made jump shot
48-40
13:48
Wyatt Wilkes missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:46
Defensive rebound by Jalen Cone
13:27
Jalen Cone missed layup, blocked by Dominik Olejniczak
13:25
Defensive rebound by Florida State
13:07
+2
Dominik Olejniczak made alley-oop shot, assist by Patrick Williams
50-40
12:35
Wabissa Bede missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:33
Defensive rebound by Rayquan Evans
12:14
+2
Dominik Olejniczak made alley-oop shot, assist by Trent Forrest
52-40
11:53
+2
Wabissa Bede made layup
52-42
11:37
+2
Patrick Williams made running Jump Shot
54-42
11:05
Hunter Cattoor missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:03
Defensive rebound by Patrick Williams
10:56
Rayquan Evans missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:54
Offensive rebound by Florida State
10:38
Trent Forrest missed layup, blocked by P.J. Horne
10:36
Offensive rebound by Patrick Williams
10:36
+2
Patrick Williams made dunk
56-42
10:36
Shooting foul on Landers Nolley II
10:36
+1
Patrick Williams made free throw
57-42
10:15
Double dribble turnover on Wabissa Bede
9:56
Balsa Koprivica missed jump shot
9:54
Defensive rebound by Hunter Cattoor
9:36
+2
Tyrece Radford made reverse layup, assist by Landers Nolley II
57-44
9:25
+2
Trent Forrest made jump shot
59-44
9:25
Shooting foul on Hunter Cattoor
9:25
+1
Trent Forrest made free throw
60-44
9:10
Shooting foul on Devin Vassell
9:10
+1
Nahiem Alleyne made 1st of 2 free throws
60-45
9:10
+1
Nahiem Alleyne made 2nd of 2 free throws
60-46
8:47
Patrick Williams missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:45
Offensive rebound by Anthony Polite
8:24
Patrick Williams missed jump shot
8:22
Defensive rebound by Tyrece Radford
8:18
Shooting foul on Patrick Williams
8:18
+1
Tyrece Radford made 1st of 2 free throws
60-47
8:18
+1
Tyrece Radford made 2nd of 2 free throws
60-48
8:00
Devin Vassell missed jump shot
7:58
Defensive rebound by Wabissa Bede
7:51
P.J. Horne missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:49
Defensive rebound by Patrick Williams
7:43
Bad pass turnover on Trent Forrest
7:30
+3
Landers Nolley II made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Tyrece Radford
60-51
7:04
Dominik Olejniczak missed turnaround jump shot
7:02
Offensive rebound by Trent Forrest
6:52
Patrick Williams missed layup
6:50
Defensive rebound by Landers Nolley II
6:49
Wabissa Bede missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:47
Defensive rebound by Florida State
6:27
Lost ball turnover on Dominik Olejniczak, stolen by Hunter Cattoor
6:22
+2
Nahiem Alleyne made dunk, assist by Hunter Cattoor