White thrives coming off bench for 'Noles

Okaro White says he doesn't mind being Florida State's sixth man.

And the Clearwater High graduate continues to make good on his word.

Florida State's rail-thin 6-foot-8 sophomore came off the bench Saturday, scored 13 points and helped slow Virginia star Mike Scott to spark the 21st-ranked Seminoles to a 58-55 victory.

"I really try to pinpoint what's going on in the game," White said about watching from the bench in the first few minutes of games. "I know when I go in what I can get."

And he got plenty in this one, adding five rebounds in relief.

"Okaro has really settled in to being a go-to guy in the second half," Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. "Okaro has been making an impact the whole year."

Scott was limited to three second-half attempts and four points while being tagged by White for much of that time.

Xavier Gibson added 10 points to help White offset some scoring lost from leading scorers Michael Snaer and Bernard James, who combined for just 12 points in Florida State's seventh straight ACC victory.

"We're not going away," Snaer said. "We're in the hunt to win the title."

It's the first time that Florida State (16-6, 7-1) has won seven straight games in ACC play since joining the league in 1991-92.

No. 16 Virginia (17-4, 4-3) climbed back from a 13-point second-half deficit, but Jontel Evans' desperation 30-footer didn't get off in time before the final buzzer — and it bounced off the rim anyway. Virginia's four losses have come by a total of 10 points.

Scott and Joe Harris led the Cavaliers with 16 points apiece. Scott also had 11 rebounds.

Virginia got the ball back with 34 seconds left and down three, but Harris missed a 3 and Deividas Dulkys was fouled on the rebound and sank the first of two shots to give Florida State a 56-52 lead with 14 seconds left.

Jeff Peterson added two free throws with 7 seconds left to make it 58-52, but Virginia's Malcolm Brogdon countered with a 3 to make it 58-55.

For a while in the second half it looked as if the Seminoles would pull away, but the Cavaliers stayed in the game despite committing 20 turnovers.