Florida State pulled away in the second half to secure a commanding 90-74 victory over Syracuse in an ACC clash Saturday night at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Fueled by standout performances from Daquan Davis and Jamir Watkins, the Seminoles overpowered the Orange with a dominant offensive display after halftime.
Davis led the way with 18 points, including a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line, while Watkins added 16 points, making 9 of 13 free throws. Florida State (10-4, 1-2 ACC) scored 54 second-half points, shooting 57% from the field and sinking 18 free throws in the half. Taylor Bol Bowen recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Malique Ewin also contributed 14 points.
The Seminoles wasted no time after intermission, scoring 12 points in the first three minutes of the second half to turn a 36-36 halftime tie into a 48-39 lead. A balanced scoring effort powered Florida State’s decisive 11-2 run midway through the half, pushing the margin to 68-55 with 8:30 remaining. Five different Seminoles scored during the run, showcasing the team’s depth and versatility.
Syracuse (6-8, 0-3 ACC) briefly threatened with a trio of three-pointers from Chris Bell, Lucas Taylor, and Donnie Freeman, cutting the deficit to 73-66 with five minutes left. However, Florida State responded by dominating at the free-throw line down the stretch. Watkins and Davis combined to make 11 of 14 free throws in the closing minutes, sealing the win for the Seminoles.
The Orange had five players in double figures, led by Chris Bell’s 18 points off the bench. Freeman posted a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while JJ Starling added 12 points. Taylor and Kyle Cuffe Jr. chipped in 10 points apiece. Despite their balanced attack, Syracuse struggled to contain Florida State’s high-powered offense and fell to 0-3 in ACC play.
Syracuse remains winless against teams from power conferences this season, with additional losses to Texas, Texas Tech, and Tennessee in non-conference play.
Florida State’s victory came amidst reports that six former players are suing head coach Leonard Hamilton, alleging a failure to secure $250,000 in promised name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Despite the legal distractions, the Seminoles remained focused and delivered a strong performance to notch their first conference win of the season.
Florida State will face a tough test on the road against No. 6 Miami on Wednesday, while Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome to host Georgia Tech on Tuesday. Both teams will look to improve their standing in a competitive ACC landscape.
This victory marked a crucial step for the Seminoles as they aim to build momentum in conference play, while Syracuse searches for answers to break out of their early-season slump.
