By JOE REEDY
Associated Press
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Malik Beasley scored 18 of his 20 points in the second half as Florida State held off Syracuse 78-73 on Saturday.
The Seminoles led by 10 before the Orange scored seven straight points to get within 71-68 with 1:21 remaining. A Michael Gbinije layup and free throw put Syracuse within two (75-73) with 32 seconds remaining when Xavier Rathan-Mayes made one of two free throws. Trevor Cooney missed a 3-pointer and Rathan-Mayes finished it off with a layup.
Dwayne Bacon and Rathan-Mayes each scored 16 points for Florida State (18-12, 8-10 Atlantic Coast Conference), which has won two straight and avenged a 13-point loss to the Orange on Feb. 11.
Gbinije led Syracuse (19-12, 9-9) with 18 points while Tyler Lydon added 16 and Malachi Richardson 15.
With the score tied at 55, Florida State took the lead for good with an 11-2 run that included four points from Bacon.
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