Duke defeats Florida St 87-91

Duke Thrills in High-Energy Contest at Tucker Center

In a thrilling matchup, No. 5-ranked Duke edged Florida State 91-87 on the road, handing the Seminoles their first conference defeat of the season.

The highly anticipated clash between two top-tier programs lived up to its billing, with both teams trading baskets and displaying incredible athleticism throughout the contest. Ultimately, the Blue Devils' experience and clutch shooting proved too much for the host Seminoles to overcome.

Duke's Isaiah Evans was a force to be reckoned with, scoring 28 points on 6-for-14 three-point shooting (42.9%) from beyond the arc. The senior guard's ability to knock down crucial shots in the final minutes sealed the win for his team.

Meanwhile, Florida State's Robert McCray V paced the Seminoles' attack, finishing with 22 points, 3 three-pointers, and a team-leading 5 assists. The junior point guard's all-around performance was a highlight of an otherwise balanced effort from FSU.

The game remained neck-and-neck until the final minutes, when Duke's Caleb Foster scored 6 points in a 4-0 run that pushed the Blue Devils' lead to as many as 9 points. The Seminoles fought back, but ultimately fell just short.

Key statistics highlighted the intensity and competitiveness of both teams. Duke outrebounded Florida State 31-24, while the Seminoles committed just 13 turnovers compared to the Blue Devils' 15. Both teams shot an impressive 53% from the field, with FSU's 60.7% two-point shooting efficiency being particularly noteworthy.

Despite falling short, this win marks a crucial step forward for Duke in its conference title quest. The loss, however, serves as a valuable lesson for Florida State, which must now regroup and refocus ahead of its next challenging test.

Florida State (24-5) 87

Duke (19-4) 91