SB Nation Tampa Bay - ACC Tournament 2012: Florida State Defeats North Carolina For First Ever ACC Tournament Title

Florida State's Michael Snaer Wins 2012 ACC Tournament MVP

2012-03-11T19:58:59Z

The Florida State Seminoles won their first-ever ACC Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon. Junior guard and former McDonald's All-American Michael Snaer took home MVP honors, after a hot-hand in the first half pushed the Noles to a lead over North Carolina that they would not relinquish.

Snaer had 54 points in the Seminoles' three game, three day run to the title. He missed only one attempt from three-point range in each game, finishing an impressive nine of 12 from behind the arc during the tournament. Just this week, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski praised Snaer as the best competitor in the league:

"I think (Michael) Snaer is a damn good player," Blue Devils coach Mike Kryzyzewski said. "He's an outstanding athlete, he's smart, and I think he's the best competitor in our league."

It's a fitting honor after such a successful season and week in Atlanta.

For more on the two teams, check out Florida Seminoles blog Tomahawk Nation and North Carolina blog Carolina March. For more on college tournaments nationwide, head over to SB Nation's dedicated NCAA basketball hub. For more on the ACC tourney, make sure to follow this StoryStream.

2012 ACC Tournament Championship, Florida State Vs. North Carolina Recap: Seminoles Win First Ever ACC Title

2012-03-11T19:21:03Z

The Florida State Seminoles held on for a 85-82 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday to win their first ever ACC Tournament Championship. The Seminoles had an incredible tournament run, beating Duke and North Carolina in the span of 24 hours and beating both storied programs for the second time this season. The Heels had a last second look from P.J. Hairston to tie it, but it hit the back of the iron and the 'Noles celebrated at mid court with their first title. Video of Hairston's last second heave below:

Junior Michael Snaer led FSU with 18 points. Snaer was a huge part of FSU's big first half, which gave the Seminoles a 9-point lead heading into the locker room. He hit four of five attempts from three-point range as FSU hit 58 percent from the floor on Carolina's defense. Deividas Dulkys added 16 points for Leonard Hamilton's club, hitting four three-pointers. Luke Loucks had a double-double, dishing 13 assists and scoring 10 points as he facilitated the Seminole offense during their huge first half.

Florida State responded to every UNC run in an impressive effort that rounded out an impressive week in Atlanta. They head into the big dance with a ton of momentum and confidence with their first ACC title under their belt.

For more on the Seminoles and Tar Heels, please head over to Tomahawk Nation andCarolina March. You can also head over to the SB Nation NCAAB hub page for more on this and every Conference tournament.

2012 ACC Tournament Championship, Florida State Vs. North Carolina: Seminoles Offense Rolling With 9-Point Lead At Half

2012-03-11T18:05:45Z

The Florida State Seminoles are twenty minutes from their first ACC Championship, leading the North Carolina Tar Heels 49-40 after the first half. It was an entertaining up-and-down first half, with the Noles setting a blistering pace and shooting 63 percent from the floor. FSU bombed from three-point range when they ran Carolina off the floor in Tallahassee, and they've hit 54 percent from behind the arc so far today. UNC simply could not get any stops on the defensive end, and the Seminoles led by as many as 16 before a late run by the Heels' Harrison Barnes closed the lead to nine.

Senior leader Michael Snaer did it all in the first half, hitting three of three attempts from behind the arc and leading the Noles with 15 points. Snaer was impressive as he tries to lead FSU to their first title. Video of his big first half below:

Luke Loucks has been a maestro with the ball so far, orchestrating the offense and dishing eight assists. It was all FSU until Barnes went off in the final two minutes to cut the lead down. Barnes matched Snaer with 15 points but again, UNC will need to slow down the FSU offense to get back in it - a task made all the more difficult by John Henson's absence.

For more on the Seminoles and Tar Heels, please head over to Tomahawk Nation and Carolina March. You can also head over to the SB Nation NCAAB hub page for more on this and every Conference tournament.

2012 ACC Tournament Championship: Florida State Vs. UNC Game Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-03-11T12:26:33Z

The North Carolina Tar Heels will be looking for revenge Sunday in the 2012 ACC Tournament Championship Game when they take on the Florida State Seminoles. Roy Williams suffered the worst loss of his UNC tenure on January 14 when Florida State manhandled North Carolina, 90-57, behind a career-high 32 points from Deividas Dulkys.

The Tar Heels will be looking to win their 18th ACC Tournament title on Sunday, but first since 2008.

Here what you need to know for Sunday's ACC Tournament Championship:

Game Date/Time: Sunday, March 11, 1:00 p.m. ET

Venue: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia

TV: ESPN

Online: ESPN3

You can find a full ACC Tournament bracket right here.

We'll have plenty more on the ACC Tournament on SB Nation Tampa Bay, so keep it locked to this StoryStream for all the latest news and updates. For more on the Seminoles and Tar Heels, please head over to Tomahawk Nation and Carolina March. You can also head over to the SB Nation NCAAB hub page for more on this and every Conference tournament.

ACC Tournament 2012 Final: Florida State Vs. North Carolina

2012-03-11T03:45:15Z

The Florida State Seminoles will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels tomorrow in the 2012 ACC Tournament Final at the Philips Arena in Atlanta Georgia.

Florida State is seeking to win their first ever ACC tournament title. The Seminoles have reached the finals by defeating Miami in the quarterfinal game by a score of 82-71, and then escaping with a 62-59 win over the Duke Blue Devils in today's semifinals match-up.

The top-seeded Tar Heels are making their second consecutive ACC tournament final. They defeated Maryland by a score of 85-69 in the quarterfinals, and then beat a game North Carolina squad 69-67 in the semis.

Sunday's game marks the second meeting between these two rivals this season. Florida State embarrassed UNC by a score of 90-57 on January 14th in Tallahassee. The Tar Heels will be seeking to a gain a measure of revenge and slow down the streaking Seminoles later in the rematch.

Here is the schedule for Sunday's final match-up. The latest bracket can be found here.

1:00 p.m.: Florida State vs. North Carolina, ESPN

We'll have plenty more on the ACC Tournament on SB Nation Tampa Bay, so keep it locked to this StoryStream for all the latest news and updates. For more on the Seminoles and Hurricanes, please head over to Tomahawk Nation and The 7th Floor. You can also head over to the SB Nation NCAAB hub page for more on this and every Conference tournament

VIDEO: Michael Snaer Leads Noles Over Duke

2012-03-10T22:47:04Z

Michael Snear led the Noles in scoring with 16 points, often picking up big shots that helped out with momentum and played excellent defense, one again.

We'll have plenty more on the ACC Tournament on SB Nation Tampa Bay, so keep it locked to this StoryStream for all the latest news and updates. For more on the Seminoles and Blue Devils, please head over to Tomahawk Nation and Duke Basketball Report. You can also head over to the SB Nation NCAAB hub page for more on this and every Conference tournament

ACC Tournament 2012, Florida State Vs. Duke Final Score: Noles Hold On To Win 62-59

2012-03-10T22:41:22Z

The Noles continued to hold their lead over the Duke Blue Devils to open the second half, but after a time out from Duke to recollect themselves the Blue Devils were able to even up the score and even take a lead at one point. The Noles themselves took a time out and got back on track, re-tacking the lead on a big dunk. The teams went back and forth in the final five minutes of the game.

In the final two minutes of the game, Ian Miller fouled out on an easy offensive foul call and left the Noles with one less scorer on the bench. Both teams scoring slowed down significantly in the final two minutes. In the final minute however, Mason Plumlee fouled out on a block far, far away from the basket and put Florida State in the bonus, allowing them to add an easy two points and push their lead to three points.

After Duke pulled back within a point, the Noles ran Michael Snaer as a decoy as the team burned time off the clock but Luke Loucks drained a shot that wound up being two points, as his foot was on the line putting FSU's lead to three points. The Noles held on to win 62-59 and will take on North Carolina in the ACC Championship Game on Sunday.

ACC Tournament 2012, Florida State Vs. Duke Score Update: Noles Hold 33-31 Lead At Halftime

2012-03-10T21:25:10Z

The Florida State Seminoles and Duke Blue Devils are battling for the final spot in the ACC Tournament to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sunday. The Noles struck first on the scoreboard, but the teams duked it out trading buckets until about four minutes left in the game when the Noles began adding a lead, getting it started with a nice steal and dunk by guard Michael Snaer.

As Florida State pulled a little bit of a lead, Duke found themselves in a bit of foul trouble when guard Austin Rivers picked up his third foul of the game and was forced to sit for the final two-minutes of the half. Duke was able to hit a few shots and force a turnover on an in-bound pass to to pull within one point. The Noles enter halftime with a 33-31 lead, but really should be leading by much more.

A couple of animated gifs kind of give you a good idea of the game. Another example of Snaer's excellent defense with a block and one of the Plumlees with a really bad turnover, trying to pass the ball to the ref with under a minute left as Duke was trying to take the lead.