FSU

VATECH

Watkins scores career-high 34 as Florida State eliminates Virginia Tech from ACC Tournament

AP
Mar 13, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) - Jamir Watkins scored 12 of his career-high 34 points in the final three minutes, Jalen Warley added 18 points and No. 9 seed Florida State Seminoles pulled away in the second half to beat No. 8 seed Virginia Tech Hokies 86-76 on Wednesday in the second round of the ACC Tournament.

Watkins was 9 of 15 from the field and 14 of 17 at the free-throw line to set a program record for points in an ACC Tournament game. He also had 11 rebounds and four steals. Warley made 8 of his 10 shots as Florida State shot 54% from the field.

Virginia Tech was 4-of-17 shooting in the opening 17 minutes of the second half. The Hokies also finished with 13 turnovers, leading to 25 points for the Seminoles.

Florida State (17-15) advances to play top-seeded and fourth-ranked North Carolina in the quarterfinals on Thursday. The Seminoles dropped both regular-season meetings with the Tar Heels, 78-70 on the road and 75-68 at home. Florida State hasn't beaten North Carolina since the 2020-21 season.

Tyler Nickel sank a long 3-pointer with 7:28 left to tie it at 57-all, but Virginia Tech did not make another field goal until Sean Pedulla's basket with 2:42 left to pull within 71-62.

Florida State took advantage of back-to-back Virginia Tech turnovers with layups by Warley and Primo Spears to take a 63-58 lead with 5:01 left. Another steal under the basket led to Warley's fast-break layup to make it 68-58 at 3:06.

Each team turned it over on an inbounds play and Watkins was fouled before making two free throws at 2:49. Watkins added two more free throws at 2:30 and had an alley-oop dunk at 2:11 for a 74-65 lead.

Spears finished with 10 points for the Seminoles.

Pedulla scored 24 points, Nickel added 18 and MJ Collins had 15 for Virginia Tech (18-14).

Both teams shot 55% or better from the field in the first half. Virginia Tech shot 64% (16 of 25), despite going 4 of 11 from 3-point range, in the first half before finishing at 49%.

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1st Half
FSU
Seminoles
36
VT
Hokies
37

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Baba Miller vs. Lynn Kidd (Cam Corhen gains possession)
19:50		Darin Green Jr. misses three point jump shot
19:48		Hunter Cattoor defensive rebound
19:34		Robbie Beran misses three point jump shot
19:32		Darin Green Jr. defensive rebound
19:19	+2	Baba Miller makes two point layup	2-0
18:58	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point jump shot	2-2
18:32		Cam Corhen misses two point layup
18:30		Jalen Warley offensive rebound
18:26	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup	4-2
18:00		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
17:58		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
17:35		Jamir Watkins turnover (bad pass) (Lynn Kidd steals)
17:24	+3	Hunter Cattoor makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists)	4-5
16:55		Jalen Warley turnover (out of bounds)
16:34		Robbie Beran turnover (bad pass) (Jamir Watkins steals)
16:28	+3	Jamir Watkins makes three point jump shot (Darin Green Jr. assists)	7-5
16:03		MJ Collins misses two point jump shot
16:01		Mylyjael Poteat offensive rebound
15:54	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point jump shot	7-7
15:36		Robbie Beran personal foul (Baba Miller draws the foul)
15:36		TV timeout
15:19		Taylor Bol Bowen misses three point jump shot
15:17		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
15:01	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists)	7-10
14:37		Darin Green Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:35		MJ Collins defensive rebound
14:09	+2	MJ Collins makes two point layup	7-12
13:46	+2	Taylor Bol Bowen makes two point jump shot (Cam Corhen assists)	9-12
13:15		Tyler Nickel turnover (lost ball) (Primo Spears steals)
13:02		Taylor Bol Bowen misses two point layup
13:00		Jaylan Gainey offensive rebound
12:55	+2	Jaylan Gainey makes two point layup	11-12
12:37	+2	Lynn Kidd makes two point dunk (MJ Collins assists)	11-14
12:05		Primo Spears misses two point jump shot
12:03		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
11:58		Darin Green Jr. shooting foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul)
11:58		TV timeout
11:58		Sean Pedulla misses regular free throw 1 of 2
11:58	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 2 of 2	11-15
11:39	+2	Jaylan Gainey makes two point dunk (Primo Spears assists)	13-15
11:09	+2	Lynn Kidd makes two point layup	13-17
10:50		Primo Spears misses three point jump shot
10:48		Jaydon Young defensive rebound
10:39	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point jump shot	13-19
10:37		Seminoles 30 second timeout
10:18		Jamir Watkins misses two point jump shot
10:16		Lynn Kidd defensive rebound
9:56		Hunter Cattoor turnover (bad pass) (Jamir Watkins steals)
9:47	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point layup	15-19
9:23	+2	MJ Collins makes two point jump shot	15-21
8:56	+2	Cam Corhen makes two point dunk (Jalen Warley assists)	17-21
8:40		MJ Collins misses three point jump shot
8:21	+3	Sean Pedulla makes three point jump shot (Mylyjael Poteat assists)	17-24
8:02	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup (Jamir Watkins assists)	19-24
7:42	+3	Jaydon Young makes three point jump shot (MJ Collins assists)	19-27
7:22	+2	Primo Spears makes two point jump shot	21-27
7:03		MJ Collins turnover (lost ball) (Cam Corhen steals)
7:00		Sean Pedulla personal foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
7:00		TV timeout
6:45	+2	Baba Miller makes two point jump shot	23-27
6:45		Robbie Beran shooting foul (Baba Miller draws the foul)
6:45		Baba Miller misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:45		Mylyjael Poteat defensive rebound
6:33		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
6:31		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
6:22	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point layup	25-27
5:52		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
5:50		Baba Miller defensive rebound
5:44		Cam Corhen misses two point layup
5:42		Mylyjael Poteat defensive rebound
5:35	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point layup	25-29
5:15		Jamir Watkins misses two point jump shot
5:13		Jamir Watkins offensive rebound
5:11	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point layup	27-29
5:11		Sean Pedulla shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
5:11		Jamir Watkins misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:11		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
4:47		Lynn Kidd misses two point hook shot
4:45		Baba Miller defensive rebound
4:38	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup (Baba Miller assists)	29-29
4:16		Jump ball. Hunter Cattoor vs. Cam Corhen (Seminoles gains possession)
4:16		Hunter Cattoor turnover (lost ball) (Cam Corhen steals)
3:45	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point jump shot	31-29
3:21	+2	MJ Collins makes two point jump shot	31-31
3:09	+3	Jamir Watkins makes three point jump shot (Jalen Warley assists)	34-31
2:54		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
2:52		Darin Green Jr. defensive rebound
2:44		Jamir Watkins misses three point jump shot
2:42		Hunter Cattoor defensive rebound
2:38	+2	Lynn Kidd makes two point layup (Hunter Cattoor assists)	34-33
2:18		Cam Corhen misses two point jump shot
2:16		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
2:13		Hokies 30 second timeout
2:13		TV timeout
1:57	+2	Tyler Nickel makes two point jump shot (MJ Collins assists)	34-35
1:36		Darin Green Jr. misses two point jump shot
1:34		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
1:09	+2	MJ Collins makes two point jump shot	34-37
0:47		Jaylan Gainey misses two point jump shot
0:45		Lynn Kidd defensive rebound
0:34		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
0:32		Taylor Bol Bowen defensive rebound
0:09		MJ Collins personal foul (Jalen Warley draws the foul)
0:07		Jaydon Young personal foul (Jalen Warley draws the foul)
0:02	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup	36-37
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
FSU
Seminoles
50
VT
Hokies
39

Time		Play	Score
19:44		MJ Collins misses three point jump shot
19:42		Cam Corhen defensive rebound
19:21		Robbie Beran shooting foul (Cam Corhen draws the foul)
19:21	+1	Cam Corhen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	37-37
19:21	+1	Cam Corhen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-37
19:08		Cam Corhen personal foul (Lynn Kidd draws the foul)
18:57		MJ Collins turnover (bad pass)
18:35	+3	Darin Green Jr. makes three point jump shot (Cam Corhen assists)	41-37
18:09		Tyler Nickel misses three point jump shot
18:07		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
17:56		Darin Green Jr. misses three point jump shot
17:54		Sean Pedulla defensive rebound
17:40		Cam Corhen shooting foul (Hunter Cattoor draws the foul)
17:40	+1	Hunter Cattoor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-38
17:40	+1	Hunter Cattoor makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-39
17:24	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup (Darin Green Jr. assists)	43-39
17:05	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (MJ Collins assists)	43-42
16:41		Jamir Watkins misses two point jump shot
16:39		Jalen Warley offensive rebound
16:35		Lynn Kidd blocks Jalen Warley's two point layup
16:33		Cam Corhen offensive rebound
16:32	+2	Cam Corhen makes two point layup	45-42
16:17		Sean Pedulla turnover (lost ball) (Jalen Warley steals)
16:13		Tyler Nickel shooting foul (Baba Miller draws the foul)
16:13		Baba Miller misses regular free throw 1 of 2
16:13	+1	Baba Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-42
15:50		Mylyjael Poteat turnover (bad pass)
15:50		TV timeout
15:32	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point jump shot	48-42
15:06		MJ Collins misses two point layup
15:04		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
15:01		Darin Green Jr. misses three point jump shot
14:59		Taylor Bol Bowen offensive rebound
14:48		Mylyjael Poteat shooting foul (Jalen Warley draws the foul)
14:48	+1	Jalen Warley makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-42
14:48	+1	Jalen Warley makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-42
14:40		Jaylan Gainey blocks Sean Pedulla's two point layup
14:38		Hokies offensive rebound
14:22		Jaylan Gainey blocks Tyler Nickel's two point layup
14:20		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
14:09		Jaylan Gainey turnover (bad pass) (MJ Collins steals)
14:06		Jalen Warley flagrant 1 (MJ Collins draws the foul)
14:06	+1	MJ Collins makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2	50-43
14:06	+1	MJ Collins makes flagrant free throw 2 of 2	50-44
13:58		Hunter Cattoor misses three point jump shot
13:56		Darin Green Jr. defensive rebound
13:34		Jamir Watkins turnover (traveling)
13:20		Jaylan Gainey shooting foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul)
13:20	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 1 of 2	50-45
13:20		Sean Pedulla misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:20		Cam Corhen defensive rebound
12:50		Baba Miller misses two point jump shot
12:48		Cam Corhen offensive rebound
12:48		Lynn Kidd shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
12:48	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	51-45
12:48		Jamir Watkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
12:48		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
12:31	+2	Tyler Nickel makes two point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists)	51-47
12:03		Jamir Watkins misses three point jump shot
12:00		Hokies defensive rebound
12:01		TV timeout
11:33		Cam Corhen shooting foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul)
11:33	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 1 of 3	51-48
11:33	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 2 of 3	51-49
11:33	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 3 of 3	51-50
11:08	+2	Primo Spears makes two point jump shot	53-50
10:42	+2	Lynn Kidd makes two point layup (Tyler Nickel assists)	53-52
10:42		Baba Miller shooting foul (Lynn Kidd draws the foul)
10:42		Lynn Kidd misses regular free throw 1 of 1
10:42		Baba Miller defensive rebound
10:19		Baba Miller offensive foul (Tyler Nickel draws the foul)
10:19		Baba Miller turnover (offensive foul)
10:19		Tyler Nickel turnover (bad pass)
10:05		Primo Spears misses three point jump shot
10:03		Hunter Cattoor defensive rebound
9:54		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
9:52		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
9:44		Jamir Watkins misses two point layup
9:42		Seminoles offensive rebound
9:37		Jalen Warley misses two point jump shot
9:35		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
9:17		Hunter Cattoor misses three point jump shot
9:15		Taylor Bol Bowen defensive rebound
9:06		Jamir Watkins offensive foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul)
9:06		Jamir Watkins turnover (offensive foul)
8:49		Sean Pedulla misses two point layup
8:47		Primo Spears defensive rebound
8:25		Hunter Cattoor shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
8:24	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-52
8:24	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-52
8:02		Primo Spears personal foul (MJ Collins draws the foul)
8:02	+1	MJ Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	55-53
8:02	+1	MJ Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-54
7:47	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point jump shot	57-54
7:28	+3	Tyler Nickel makes three point jump shot (Sean Pedulla assists)	57-57
7:06		Jalen Warley turnover (bad pass) (Hunter Cattoor steals)
7:02		Jamir Watkins personal foul (Hunter Cattoor draws the foul)
7:02		TV timeout
7:02	+1	Hunter Cattoor makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-58
7:02		Hunter Cattoor misses regular free throw 2 of 2
7:02		Taylor Bol Bowen defensive rebound
6:37	+2	Primo Spears makes two point jump shot (Jalen Warley assists)	59-58
6:11		Sean Pedulla misses two point layup
6:09		Cam Corhen defensive rebound
5:52		Taylor Bol Bowen misses three point jump shot
5:50		Hunter Cattoor defensive rebound
5:31		MJ Collins turnover (bad pass) (Jalen Warley steals)
5:25	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup	61-58
5:07		Sean Pedulla turnover (bad pass) (Primo Spears steals)
5:03	+2	Primo Spears makes two point layup	63-58
5:01		Hokies 30 second timeout
5:01		TV timeout
4:44		Hunter Cattoor misses three point jump shot
4:42		Jalen Warley defensive rebound
4:27		Lynn Kidd shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
4:27	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	64-58
4:27		Jamir Watkins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:27		Tyler Nickel defensive rebound
3:58		Baba Miller blocks Lynn Kidd's two point layup
3:56		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
3:45		Baba Miller misses two point layup
3:43		Jamir Watkins offensive rebound
3:39	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point dunk	66-58
3:16		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
3:14		Lynn Kidd offensive rebound
3:09		Lynn Kidd turnover (lost ball) (Jamir Watkins steals)
3:03	+2	Jalen Warley makes two point layup (Primo Spears assists)	68-58
2:52		Primo Spears personal foul (Sean Pedulla draws the foul)
2:52		TV timeout
2:52	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 1 of 2	68-59
2:52	+1	Sean Pedulla makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-60
2:52		Baba Miller turnover
2:50		Sean Pedulla turnover (bad pass) (Jamir Watkins steals)
2:50		Sean Pedulla personal foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
2:49	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-60
2:49	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	70-60
2:43	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point layup	70-62
2:30		Lynn Kidd shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
2:30	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	71-62
2:30	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	72-62
2:23		Hunter Cattoor misses three point jump shot
2:21		Tyler Nickel offensive rebound
2:17	+2	Tyler Nickel makes two point layup	72-64
2:17		Jalen Warley shooting foul (Tyler Nickel draws the foul)
2:17	+1	Tyler Nickel makes regular free throw 1 of 1	72-65
2:11	+2	Jamir Watkins makes two point dunk (Jalen Warley assists)	74-65
2:03		Sean Pedulla misses three point jump shot
2:01		Hunter Cattoor offensive rebound
1:57	+2	MJ Collins makes two point layup (Hunter Cattoor assists)	74-67
1:53		Robbie Beran personal foul (Primo Spears draws the foul)
1:53	+1	Primo Spears makes regular free throw 1 of 2	75-67
1:53	+1	Primo Spears makes regular free throw 2 of 2	76-67
1:43		Jalen Warley shooting foul (Hunter Cattoor draws the foul)
1:43	+1	Hunter Cattoor makes regular free throw 1 of 3	76-68
1:43		Hunter Cattoor misses regular free throw 2 of 3
1:43	+1	Hunter Cattoor makes regular free throw 3 of 3	76-69
1:37		Seminoles 30 second timeout
1:37		Hunter Cattoor personal foul (Cam Corhen draws the foul)
1:37	+1	Cam Corhen makes regular free throw 1 of 2	77-69
1:37	+1	Cam Corhen makes regular free throw 2 of 2	78-69
1:29	+2	Tyler Nickel makes two point layup (Sean Pedulla assists)	78-71
1:19		Sean Pedulla shooting foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
1:19	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	79-71
1:19	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	80-71
1:10	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point layup	80-73
1:09		Hokies 30 second timeout
1:03		Primo Spears turnover (Robbie Beran steals)
1:01	+2	Sean Pedulla makes two point layup (Hunter Cattoor assists)	80-75
0:53		Jamir Watkins turnover (bad pass)
0:53		Seminoles 30 second timeout
0:47		Sean Pedulla misses two point jump shot
0:45		Baba Miller defensive rebound
0:42		Sean Pedulla personal foul (Baba Miller draws the foul)
0:42	+1	Baba Miller makes regular free throw 1 of 2	81-75
0:42	+1	Baba Miller makes regular free throw 2 of 2	82-75
0:33		Jaydon Young misses three point jump shot
0:30		Primo Spears defensive rebound
0:30		Lynn Kidd personal foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
0:30	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	83-75
0:30	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	84-75
0:25		Baba Miller shooting foul (MJ Collins draws the foul)
0:25	+1	MJ Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	84-76
0:25		MJ Collins misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:25		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
0:23		Robbie Beran personal foul (Jamir Watkins draws the foul)
0:23	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	85-76
0:23	+1	Jamir Watkins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	86-76
0:16		MJ Collins misses three point jump shot
0:14		Jamir Watkins defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Jamir Watkins defensive rebound