In a dramatic ACC showdown on Wednesday night, Florida State pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Wake Forest 72-70, securing their first Quad 1 victory of the season. The Seminoles (15-9, 6-7 ACC) showcased their resilience, outscoring the Demon Deacons 31-13 over the final 10 minutes to earn their second consecutive win.
Taylor Bol Bowen and Jamir Watkins led the charge for Florida State, scoring 15 points each, while Malique Ewan added a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. The win not only boosted Florida State’s confidence but also shook up the ACC standings.
Wake Forest (18-7, 10-4 ACC) was led by Cameron Hildreth’s 22 points, Hunter Sallis 20 points, and Tre’Von Spillers 13 points. Efton Reid III also contributed with 10 rebounds, but the Demon Deacons couldn’t hold off Florida State’s relentless comeback.
Wake Forest appeared to be in control for most of the game, maintaining the lead from the 11:44 mark of the first half until the final seconds. However, Florida State’s late-game surge turned the tide. Bol Bowen’s clutch 3-pointer with 15 seconds remaining gave the Seminoles a 70-69 lead, their first since early in the game.
On the ensuing possession, Wake Forest’s Ty-Laur Johnson rushed up the court but inexplicably launched a deep 3-pointer with eight seconds still on the clock. The shot went hard off the back of the rim, and Bol Bowen secured the rebound before dishing it to Justin Thomas, who sealed the victory with a breakaway dunk to extend the lead to 72-69 with 2.6 seconds left.
The drama didn’t end there. After inbounding the ball, Wake Forest’s Cameron Hildreth heaved a desperation shot just inside half-court and drew a controversial shooting foul on Daquan Davis with only 0.3 seconds remaining. With a chance to send the game to overtime, Hildreth missed the first free throw, made the second, and then intentionally missed the third. However, the ball rolled out of bounds, sealing the victory for Florida State.
Florida State will look to continue its momentum as they host 23rd-ranked Clemson on Saturday. Meanwhile, Wake Forest aims to bounce back on the road against SMU.
This thrilling comeback not only highlighted Florida State’s grit and determination but also showcased the unpredictability and excitement of ACC basketball.
