Key Performances Drive Duke to Victory

Isaiah Evans delivered a standout performance, hitting six 3-pointers and scoring a career-high 28 points to lead the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils to a 91-87 victory over Florida State on Saturday afternoon in Tallahassee, Fla. The win was crucial for Duke as they secured their second consecutive narrow win to start conference play.

Evans’ contribution was pivotal, especially in the second half when he scored 18 of his points. His 6-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc made him the first Duke player besides Cameron Boozer to lead the team in scoring since Nov. 21 against Niagara. Boozer also played a significant role with 17 points, a career-high nine assists, and five rebounds. Caleb Foster and Dame Sarr each added three 3-pointers and 13 points, contributing to the Blue Devils’ strong offensive output.

On the other side, Florida State’s Chauncey Wiggins matched his career high with 22 points, making 4 of 5 shots from beyond the arc. Robert McCray V also had a strong game with 22 points, hitting 3 of 4 threes and adding five assists. Kobe MaGee chipped in with 17 points, including four 3-pointers.

Despite the Seminoles’ impressive shooting—53.4% from the floor and a season-high 46.7% from 3-point range (14 of 30)—Duke managed to pull off the win. The Blue Devils shot 52.8% from the field and made 12 of 27 three-point attempts.

A Back-and-Forth Game

The game started with Florida State making a strong statement, going 5-of-6 from 3-point range and 6-of-7 from the floor to take a 17-11 lead with 14:38 remaining in the first half. The Seminoles maintained this advantage for much of the first half, with the lead fluctuating between one and seven points.

Duke closed the half on a 7-2 run, tying the game at 42-all at halftime. Boozer led the way with 10 points and five assists, while Evans added 10 points in the first half. Florida State shot 55.6% from the field and 47.1% from 3-point range, with Wiggins scoring 11 points and making three 3-pointers.

The second half saw a back-and-forth battle. Duke took its first lead by scoring the first five points of the half, but Florida State responded with a 13-4 run to take a 59-55 lead with 15:05 left. The Blue Devils then went on a 12-2 run to open up a 74-65 lead. However, Florida State continued to fight back, cutting the deficit to three points four times in the final 5:25 and eventually trimming it to two points with 23 seconds left on a three-pointer by MaGee.

Clutch Free Throws Seal the Win

In the final 3:35 of the game, Duke made their final three field goals and all six free throws to secure the victory. This late-game execution proved to be the difference in the tightly contested match.

With the win, Duke improved to 13-1 overall and 2-0 in ACC play, while Florida State fell to 7-8 and 0-2 in conference games.

Looking Ahead

This game highlighted the importance of key players like Evans and Boozer for Duke, while Florida State showed flashes of their potential despite the loss. Both teams will look to build on this performance as they continue their respective seasons.

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