Seminoles Fall Just Short Against Wake Forest in One-Point Heartbreaker
Florida State came into Saturday’s matchup with Wake Forest looking to snap a four-game skid and finally notch their first ACC win under head coach Luke Loucks. For a while, it looked like they might do just that.
But in a game that came down to the wire, the Seminoles couldn’t quite close it out, falling 69-68 at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
This one had all the makings of a gritty conference battle-momentum swings, clutch buckets, and late-game drama. And for a team trying to claw its way out of a tough start to league play, Florida State showed fight. But in the end, a late turnover and a missed opportunity in the final seconds proved costly.
A Tale of Two Halves-and a Final Few Seconds
The Seminoles held a 34-31 lead at the break, thanks to balanced scoring and solid perimeter shooting early. Thomas Bassong got things rolling with five quick points, and by the under-12 media timeout, FSU was hitting 50% from the field and 4-of-8 from beyond the arc. A strong stretch midway through the first half gave FSU an eight-point cushion, but Wake Forest responded with a rapid 8-0 run of their own to tie things up.
By halftime, eight of nine Seminoles had scored, though none had more than five points-a testament to the team’s depth, but also a reminder that they were still looking for someone to take over.
In the second half, Bassong continued to lead the way, finishing with 11 points. Robert McCray V and Chauncey Wiggins each added 10, giving the Seminoles multiple options offensively. FSU built a nine-point lead with under four minutes to play-its largest of the night-behind a 64-57 advantage at the final media timeout.
But Wake Forest didn’t go away. The Demon Deacons chipped away at the lead, capitalizing on FSU’s turnovers-13 in total, which led to 14 Wake Forest points.
With under 30 seconds left, FSU was clinging to a one-point edge, 68-67, and had the ball. But a costly turnover with 18.1 seconds remaining flipped the script, giving Wake Forest a chance to steal it.
And they did.
FSU had one last look with 4.8 seconds left, trailing by one, but couldn’t convert.
Searching for a Breakthrough
The loss drops Florida State to 7-11 on the season and 0-5 in ACC play. While their 7-3 home record shows they’re capable of playing well in Tallahassee, the inability to finish has become a recurring theme during this conference stretch.
Luke Loucks, still searching for his first ACC win as head coach, has seen his team compete-this wasn’t a blowout, and it wasn’t for lack of effort. But the margins in ACC play are razor-thin, and Saturday night was another example of how a few late-game possessions can swing everything.
Wake Forest Grinds It Out
Wake Forest improved to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in league play, snapping a two-game slide of their own. They’re still winless in true road games this season, but pulling out a one-point win in a tough environment like the Tucker Center could be a momentum-builder.
Looking Ahead
For Florida State, the frustration is real, but so is the potential. The Seminoles showed flashes-Bassong’s energy, McCray V’s shot-making, Wiggins’ presence.
The pieces are there. What’s missing is consistency and execution in crunch time.
The next step? Turning close losses into wins. And in this league, that starts with valuing possessions, especially in the final minutes.
The Seminoles will have to regroup quickly as ACC play rolls on. But if there’s any silver lining, it’s that they’re right there-they just need to finish the job.