In one of the most dramatic finishes of the ACC season, Boston College pulled off an improbable comeback to snap a six-game losing streak, scoring five points in the final seven seconds to shock Florida State 77-76 on Saturday.
Trailing 70-62 with under a minute remaining, the Eagles (10-11, 2-8 ACC) appeared to be heading toward another conference loss. However, a flurry of clutch plays in the final moments turned the game on its head.
Boston College began its furious rally when Donald Hand Jr. converted a three-point play. Florida State’s Jamir Watkins responded by sinking two free throws, but Fred Payne and Hand each knocked down a pair from the charity stripe to bring the Eagles within three.
After Malique Ewin made two free throws for the Seminoles (13-9, 4-7), Payne answered with a three-point play, cutting the deficit to 74-72. Ewin then stepped up again at the line, calmly knocking down two more free throws to extend the Seminoles lead to 76-72.
With time running out, Payne drove for a layup, only to have it blocked by Ewin. However, Chad Venning secured the loose ball and hit a put-back jumper to make it 76-74. On the ensuing in-bounds play, Florida State’s A.J. Swinton attempted a lob pass but misfired, allowing Chas Kelley III to swoop in, steal the ball, and launch a desperation three-pointer. The shot found the bottom of the net, sealing an unforgettable victory for Boston College.
Donald Hand Jr. delivered the best performance of his collegiate career, pouring in a career-high 31 points while grabbing nine rebounds. His relentless play kept Boston College within striking distance throughout the game.
Fred Payne provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring 14 points while making all five of his free-throw attempts. Venning’s clutch put-back proved vital in setting up Kelley’s game-winner, capping a remarkable team effort.
For Florida State, the heartbreaking defeat wasted a strong outing from Jamir Watkins, who scored 19 points while surpassing 900 career points. Ewin was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds, while Swinton chipped in 10 points off the bench.
The Seminoles had led since taking a 15-14 advantage early in the first half and appeared to have control late, only to see it unravel in the final seconds.
Boston College looks to build off its momentum when it hosts No. 21 Louisville on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Florida State will try to bounce back at home against Notre Dame on Tuesday.
For now, the Eagles will savor one of the most dramatic wins of the season, while the Seminoles are left to wonder how victory slipped away in a stunning final sequence.