Sports

Florida State scores 13 points in a row to pull away from Miami, 63-53

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Florida State forward Okaro White (10) goes to the basket against Miami during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) (The Associated Press)

Florida State Boris Bojanovsky (15) goes up against Miami forward James Kelly (35) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Coral Gables, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014. Florida State won 63-53. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) (The Associated Press)

Florida State scored 13 consecutive points over the final 4 minutes Wednesday to pull away from the Miami Hurricanes 63-53.

Miami missed six shots in a row during the decisive stretch and went 3½ minutes without a point. The Seminoles made their final six shots, and also went 8 for 8 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

Florida State (12-4, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) won its third game in a row. Miami (9-7, 1-3 ACC) has already matched its loss total in the conference for all of last season, when it won the title.

The 14th and final lead change came when Okaro White's two free throws put Florida State ahead to stay, 52-51. Garrius Adams then blew a dunk for the Hurricanes, and that was their last chance to regain the lead.

Ian Miller's 3-pointer made it 57-51, and he added two free throws in the final minute to help seal the win.

In five of the Hurricanes' seven losses, they've led late in the second half.

Aaron Thomas led the Seminoles with 12 points. Devon Bookert and Boris Bojanovsky added 11 each.

Bookert made three 3-pointers for the Seminoles, who went 7 for 15 from beyond the arc after sinking 16 3-pointers in Sunday's win over Maryland.

Florida State went 14 for 17 from the free-throw line, while Miami went only 2 for 6. Miami missed 19 of 28 3-point tries.

There were no fast-break points, reflecting the methodical pace with both teams playing stingy zones that forced a lot of long possessions and outside shots.

Miami senior Donnavan Kirk shot 9 for 12 and scored a career-high 21 points. Rion Brown also had 21, but the rest of the team shot 1 for 15 from 3-point range.

The Hurricanes missed 13 of their first 17 shots, and the Seminoles led for most of the opening half, building an advantage of 18-11. James Kelly's basket put Miami ahead for the first time, 21-20.

Kirk beat the final buzzer with a basket for a 28-24 lead. Brown's back-to-back 3-pointers gave the Hurricanes their largest lead at 43-38 midway in the second half.