GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina fell short of duplicating a second-half comeback for a second straight time against Florida State and lost, 69-66, in the ACC tournament semifinals Friday in the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Seminoles advanced to face Georgia Tech in the ACC championship game Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The Yellow Jackets moved into the title game after Virginia had a positive COVID-19 test and had to withdraw from the tournament.
The Tar Heels (18-10) trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half and were down 11 at halftime. But just like their rally from 16 points down in their 78-70 win over FSU on Feb. 27 in Chapel Hill, they slowly erased their deficit and even briefly took the lead.
UNC guard Caleb Love (team-high 13 points) made a 3-pointer to tie the game at 59 and turned to Roy Williams as he ran up the floor. Sardaar Calhoun answered for the Seminoles with a 3 on the ensuing possession.
After Kerwin Walton made a floater in the lane, it was Calhoun who put the Heels in position to re-take the lead. Calhoun fouled R.J. Davis in the body well after his 3-point attempt left his hands. Davis made all three free throws with 3:14 remaining to put the Heels back ahead 64-62.
It was the last time UNC would hold a lead as it made just one basket the closing three minutes of the game.
Love picked up his fourth foul with 3:01 left and Anthony Polite made his first 3-pointer of the game to give the Noles a 65-64 lead.
Love took a wild shot, trying to scoop the ball under Scottie Barnes with the shot clock running out. But he redeemed himself on the ensuing defensive possession, when he stepped in front of M.J. Walker and took a charge.
FSU made it hard for the Heels to get a clean shot offensively. Davis had a brief opening on a drive to the basket but as he got to the rim, it quickly closed up and he missed with 36 seconds left.
A pair of RaiQuan Gray free throws gave FSU a 67-64 lead with 35 seconds left.
Carolina will look back at the free throws it missed that could have helped it win the game. The Heels shot just 14 of 25 from the line.
Florida State was led by center Balsa Koprivica's 17 points and 11 rebounds.
