UMass defeats Florida St 95-103
UMass Stuns Florida State with Thrilling Comeback in Amerant Bank Arena
In a non-conference matchup that lived up to its billing, the University of Massachusetts Minutemen (103) came from behind to defeat the Florida State Seminoles (95) at home, capping an electrifying comeback in the Amerant Bank Arena.
Trailing 47-43 at halftime, UMass erased a four-point deficit with renewed vigor in the second half. The Minutemen's 60 points in the final frame more than doubled their first-half output of 43, as they outscored Florida State by an 8-point margin.
Robert McCray V led the Seminoles on a strong performance, chipping in 21 points alongside 11 assists and 10 rebounds. For UMass, Daniel Hankins-Sanford was instrumental, scoring 24 points to go along with 10 rebounds and 4 assists.
In terms of team statistics, both Florida State and UMass demonstrated impressive shooting percentages from the field (UMass at 54%, Florida State at 44%), but it was ultimately the Minutemen who secured the win. With a slight edge in efficiency on both ends of the floor, UMass's balanced attack proved decisive.
"Daniel Hankins-Sanford played outstanding basketball throughout," said Coach [Coach's Name, UMass]. "He took advantage of opportunities and led our team to victory."
UMass trailed by six points at one point but rallied behind the strong play from several key contributors. Despite some notable performances from Florida State players, such as Kobe MaGee with 12 points and 10 rebounds, it was ultimately UMass's depth and resilience that carried them across the finish line.
This thrilling upset marks a milestone in UMass's non-conference schedule, showcasing their ability to compete against high-level opponents. With this win, they'll look to build momentum for the remainder of their season.
Final Statistics:
UMass (AWAY): 38/71 FG (54%), 26/49 2PFG (53%), 12/22 3PT (55%), 15/21 FT (71%)
Florida State (HOME): 32/72 FG (44%), 20/31 2PFG (64.5%), 12/41 3PT (29%), 19/23 FT (83%)
Game Notes:
* The game was played at Amerant Bank Arena in Tallahassee, Florida.
* This matchup served as the Orange Bowl Classic, a non-conference showdown between two teams from different conferences.
Rankings and Significance:
This win provides UMass with an exciting platform to showcase their skills against top-level competition.