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WATCH: Florida State completes record-setting comeback with three-point buzzer-beater

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•02/25/23
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(Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)

Florida State pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in college basketball history on Saturday afternoon. The Seminoles were down by 25 at one point in the second half to their bitter rivals, the 13th-ranked Miami Hurricanes, in Coral Gables. Florida State stormed back with a vengeance after halftime, and trailed by two in the closing seconds, when Matthew Cleveland delivered a dagger to remember at the buzzer, a game-winning three pointer from deep, to lift the Seminoles to a stunning 85-84 victory over the ‘Canes.

Check out the game-winner here.

Florida State shot 68 percent from the field in the second half, torching the nets to fuel their furious rally. Matthew Cleveland has delivered the late game heroics in the past for the Seminoles, as he delivered a game-winning dagger against the Virginia Cavaliers last year in John Paul Jones Arena. The shot on Saturday afternoon was the third buzzer beater of his FSU career.

With the buzzer-beater, Florida State completed their largest halftime comeback against a ranked opponent in the last 40 years. It was also the largest comeback in ACC history. There’s no question that Seminole fans will never forget this one, nor should they. It was simply put, the comeback of a lifetime.

Jordan Miller had given the ‘Canes an 84-82 lead, after he drilled a three-pointer with 4.9 seconds left in the game. Then Cleveland took the ball down to the other end, and he let it fly from around 25 feet, and the ball swished through the hoop, nothing but net. Cleveland and Darin Green, Jr. each poured in 20 points for the Seminoles. Caleb Mills chipped in 13 points for FSU and they also got 11 points from Jalen Warley.

Cleveland’s dagger not only completed Florida State’s highly improbable comeback, but it also snapped Miami’s seven-game winning streak. It also ruined the Hurricanes’ perfect record at home this year. Florida State might sit at 9-20 overall and 7-11 in the ACC, but a win like that will make their entire season, no question about it.