Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 30 points, and the Seminoles held off a late Clemson rally, in a 76-73 FSU win in the second round of the 2015 ACC Tournament on Wednesday.
The ‘Noles (17-15, 9-10 ACC) advance to play top seed UVA (28-2, 16-2 ACC) at noon Thursday.
Florida State led 33-26 at the half, and quickly extended the lead into double digits early in the second half, with Rathan-Mayes hitting three three-pointers over a 4:25 stretch to put FSU on top, 50-35, at the 12:01 mark of the second half.
The Seminoles would lead by as many as 20 before a furious rally by Clemson (16-15, 8-11 ACC) cut the margin to three at 74-71 on a three-pointer by Damarcus Harrison followed by a steal on an inbounds pass by Jarson Blossomgame with 33 seconds left.
After Rathan-Mayes hit one of two free throws, a pair of Rod Hall free throws with 25 seconds left brought the Tigers to within two at 75-73.
Florida State had trouble closing the game out at the line, going just 8-of-14 from the stripe in the final 2:20. A miss by Phil Cofer with 10 seconds left gave Clemson a shot to tie it, but a three on a good look by Blossomgame hit the front rim and bounded off.
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