Fast-starting Virginia Tech runs past Florida State

A hot start and a double-double from Tobi Lawal led Virginia Tech to a 76-66 victory over Florida State on Wednesday in Tallahassee, Fla.

A 12-2 run in the first five minutes jump-started Virginia Tech to a 20-point halftime lead, and the margin never dipped below six in the second half.

The Hokies (9-12, 4-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) capitalized on 17 points and 13 rebounds from Lawal to post coach Mike Young's 400th career victory. He is 101-76 at Virginia Tech after going 299-244 at Wofford.

Virginia Tech jumped to a 35-15 halftime advantage after holding Florida State to 6-for-28 (21.4 percent) shooting before the break, including 0-for-8 from 3-point range.

Jaden Schutt added 16 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Hokies ended a three-game losing streak. Jaydon Young connected on a trio of first-half 3-pointers for nine points, and Mylyjael Poteat also put up nine points.

Florida State (13-8, 4-6) dropped its third consecutive game. After a miserable offensive first half, the Seminoles did shoot better in the second half, connecting on 19 of 34 shots (55.9 percent) after intermission, including 8 of 17 (47.1 percent) from 3-point range.

The Seminoles were led by Taylor Bol Bowen, who had 14 points and nine rebounds. Jerry Deng added 13 points off the bench and Jamar Watkins overcame a cold start to tally nine points, although he shot just 4-for-13.

In the early going, Florida State tied the game at 2 on a Bowen jump shot, then watched Virginia Tech unleash the next 10 points to pull ahead. Florida State pulled within 12-7 on a Watkins jumper, only for Virginia Tech to open a 13-4 run that culminated on a fastbreak dunk from Ben Burnham.

In the second half, a Florida State closed the margin to 49-43 with 8:08 to play on a Daquan Davis layup. However, Virginia Tech followed with treys from Ben Hammond and Schutt before stretching the advantage to 61-45 on a three-point play from Lawal.

--Field Level Media