Florida State falls at Virginia Tech despite 26-point outburst from Jamir Watkins
Junior forward Jamir Watkins scored a game-high 26 points and Florida State shot better than 50 percent from the floor, but turnovers and rebounding issues doomed the Seminoles in an 83-75 loss Tuesday night at Virginia Tech.
The Seminoles committed eight turnovers in the second half and 13 for the game, and Virginia Tech turned those miscues into 23 points. The Hokies also dominated FSU on the glass, claiming a 35-23 advantage in rebounding.
With the win, Virginia Tech snaps a three-game losing streak and improves to 14-10, 6-7 in the ACC. Florida State falls to 13-11 and 7-6.
Watkins scored his 26 points in just 30 minutes, as he was limited by foul trouble in the second half, and he also grabbed six rebounds while handing out four assists. The only other Seminole to register more than two rebounds was sophomore forward Baba Miller, and he had three.
Senior shooting guard Darin Green Jr. scored 14 points, thanks in part to 3-of-6 shooting from 3-point range, but no other Seminoles reached double-figures.
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Virginia Tech, meanwhile, had four players reach that mark, led by 20 points from Hunter Cattoor and 19 from Sean Padulla. Senior center Lynn Kidd added 12 points and 15 rebounds.
Padulla did most of his damage at three free-throw line, where he connected on 14 of 16 attempts. The Hokies hit 28 of 32 free throws as a team, while Florida State hit 19 of 29.
Florida State, which has now lost four of its last five games, hosts No. 9 Duke on Saturday.
BOX SCORE: Virginia Tech 83, FSU 75
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