In an emotional farewell at the Donald L. Tucker Center, Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton closed out his storied home coaching career with a memorable victory. The Seminoles defeated SMU 76-69 on Saturday, giving Hamilton his 200th ACC regular-season win and sending the veteran coach out in style.
Hamilton, who announced his retirement earlier this season after 23 years leading the Seminoles, leaves a lasting legacy as the ACC’s fifth all-time winningest coach with 438 victories. His 200 ACC regular-season wins rank fourth in conference history.
Sophomore forward Malique Ewin delivered a career-best performance, scoring 26 points and grabbing eight rebounds to lead the Seminoles (17-14, 8-12 ACC) to victory. Jamir Watkins added 20 points and eight rebounds, while Jerry Deng chipped in 11 points as Florida State shot 48% from the field.
The win ended a four-game losing streak for Florida State, who controlled much of the second half but never led by more than seven points. Watkins’ clutch fadeaway jumper with 1:17 remaining extended the Seminoles’ lead to 71-64.
SMU’s Boopie Miller answered with a quick layup, and the Mustangs (22-9, 13-7 AAC) had a chance to tighten the game after forcing a Florida State turnover. However, Matt Cross missed a key 3-pointer, and Justin Thomas secured the rebound before hitting 1-of-2 free throws to give the Seminoles a six-point cushion with 25.5 seconds left.
A late 3-point attempt by SMU’s B.J. Edwards was partially blocked, and Florida State sealed the win with a final free throw.
SMU controlled much of the first half before Florida State closed on an 8-0 run. Watkins hit four consecutive free throws during that stretch to give the Seminoles a 33-27 lead in the final minute. Miller responded with a basket and a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to trim the deficit to one at halftime.
Miller led SMU with 16 points, while Cross added 13 points, Kario Oquendo scored 12, and Chuck Harris contributed 11. The Mustangs shot 42% from the field but struggled to capitalize on late-game opportunities.
Both teams now turn their focus to the upcoming conference tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, which runs Tuesday through Saturday. While Florida State’s season has been marked by ups and downs, Hamilton’s memorable sendoff at home ensures his coaching career will be remembered fondly in Tallahassee.
