Michael Snaer converted an old-fashioned three-point play with 4.4 seconds left, and Florida State put UVa.’s NCAA Tournament hopes on life support, 53-51, Thursday night.
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The loss was the second in a row on the road for Virginia after the Cavs’ 73-68 win over #3 Duke on Feb. 28 had seemed to guarantee the program its second consecutive NCAA bid. UVa. lost in the final seconds at Boston College on Sunday by a 53-52 margin.
This one looked to be over much sooner. FSU (16-14, 8-9 ACC) extended a three-point halftime lead to a 47-36 bulge on a Boris Bojanovsky dunk with 6:32 to go.
A Justin Anderson steal and fast-break dunk with 5:58 left cut the lead to nine and started Virginia on a 15-3 run that ended with the ‘Hoos going up one at 51-50 with 1:28 left on a pair of free throws by Joe Harris.
Akil Mitchell rebounded a miss by Snaer with 54 seconds left. Virginia ran clock on its next possession, which ended with a wild miss in the lane by Mitchell as the shot clock ran down.
FSU called timeout and set up its last shot, running a play for Snaer, who came off two screens to catch the ball on the right wing, then drove past Harris to put up a floater in the lane. The basket went in, and Snaer went to the line after being fouled by Harris on the shot.
The senior made the free throw to extend the lead to two. Virginia inbounded the ball to Harris, who was not able to get a shot off before time expired.
Harris, last week considered a top contender for the ACC Player of the Year award, had his second subpar game in a row, scoring 13 points on 5-of-15 shooting from the field.
Mitchell led UVa. (20-10, 10-7 ACC) with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Mike Tobey added 12 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes off the bench.
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