Chauncey Wiggins scored 22 points and hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with just under two minutes left on his 21st birthday to help Florida State win its third straight game, 82-79 over Notre Dame on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference play at South Bend, Ind.
Florida State (11-12, 4-6) led by as many as 18 in the first half, 41-32 at halftime and by 11 early in the second half. However, the Seminoles shot 37.9% from the field in the second half while Notre Dame (11-13, 2-9) shot 51.5% to work back and take a 75-74 lead on Logan Imes’ 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining.
Then Wiggins, who went 5 of 10 from beyond the arc, knocked down a deep 3-pointer left of the top of the arc with 1:52 to go that put the Seminoles ahead for good.
Notre Dame forward Carson Towt missed four attempts from the foul line down the stretch. Florida State’s Alier Maluk hit two free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining to reach the final margin and send the Seminoles to their fourth win in five games.
Braeden Shrewsberry had 18 points and Jalen Haralson scored 15 before fouling out with 2:33 left for the Fighting Irish, who have lost four straight games and nine of 10 to remain in jeopardy of missing the ACC tournament.
Florida State came out hot, scoring 17 of the game’s first 19 points. The Seminoles’ first 15 points came via two 3-pointers apiece from Wiggins and Rod McCray V (15 points), and the other from Lajae Jones.
The visitors opened 6 of 10 from long distance and 8 of 13 overall from the field en route to building a 27-9 lead. However, Florida State went 3 of 12 from beyond the arc the rest of the half and 6 of 23 from the floor.
Notre Dame shot just 32.3% from the field in the opening half but used a 10-0 run to get back in the contest. Sir Mohammed’s 3-pointer with 1:01 left before the break got the Irish to 36-30 before the Seminoles scored the next five points for more breathing room entering halftime.
Florida State hit 15 of 37 from long range for the game.
