Alec Peters drilled a 3-pointer to open Valparaiso’s game Thursday night against Florida State in the second round of the NIT.
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The Crusaders scored the first seven points at the Athletics-Recreation Center. And for the second time in as many games in the tournament, top-seeded Valparaiso led from start to finish, topping the fourth-seeded Seminoles 81-69.
Hosting an ACC opponent for the first time, the Crusaders continued to show focus after getting left out of the NCAA Tournament.
“We’re past it now,” Peters said. “We didn’t get what our main goal was, but this is the next best thing. We have a great opportunity ahead of us.”
The Crusaders (28-6), who tied the program record for wins after last season’s team also went 28-6, are one win away from a trip to Madison Square Garden. They will play in the quarterfinals Tuesday at the ARC against either Saint Mary’s or Georgia. The Gaels (28-5) and Bulldogs (20-13) play in the second round 6:30 p.m. Sunday.
“This is a very special team and a very special opportunity to go to New York and compete for an NIT championship,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said of Valparaiso. “This is a team that probably should’ve been in the NCAA Tournament.”
Valparaiso led 39-29 at halftime and pushed its advantage to 12. Florida State (20-14) closed to three points with 13 minutes left in the second half, but the Crusaders responded to every Seminoles run.
“They were very sharp from the beginning of the game,” Hamilton said. “They played with a tremendous amount of energy, and they executed very well.
“We lost to a team that was very well prepared. You have to take your hat off when a team goes out there and plays with a purpose.”
It was Peters who largely had the answers. The junior forward totaled 26 points and nine rebounds. He has scored at least 23 in six straight games.
Jubril Adekoya, also a junior forward, began his Valparaiso career with Peters.
“I’ve seen Alec play great,” Adekoya said. “I know he’s a good player all the time. He’s helping us on both ends of the floor. It’s just Alec being Alec.”
Peters moved past Raitis Grafs into fifth place on Valparaiso’s career scoring list. He has scored the third most points in a season, passing Bryce Drew’s totals from both 1997 and 1998.
Hamilton was impressed with Peters.
“Our defensive system keeps people from scoring on the interior,” he said. “Very seldom do we get torched by a guy. We knew going into the game he’s very talented, a great 3-point shooter and he could post up.
“We went against a team that executed and got him the ball in his sweet spots. We were doing a poor job defending him, and a great player on a great night, you have to give him credit for exploiting it.”
Shane Hammink had 18 points for the Crusaders. Keith Carter added 13 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Adekoya also had an excellent all-around game, especially with Vashil Fernandez limited by foul trouble. He had 11 points, five rebounds and five assists off the bench.
“He brought great versatility,” Drew said of Adekoya.
Valparaiso becomes the first Horizon League team to reach the NIT quarterfinals since 2001, when Detroit made the semis.
“This is a tremendous group to be around,” Drew said. “They’re great young men. I’m blessed to be around them for a couple more days.”
Notes: Tevonn Walker played 13 minutes after missing the previous two games with a right ankle injury. … The Crusaders improved to 16-1 at home.
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