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CLEMSON, SOUTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 21: Alex Steen #25 and Lajae Jones #10 of the Florida State Seminoles defend Nick Davidson #11 of the Clemson Tigers during a free throw in the first period at Littlejohn Coliseum on February 21, 2026 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Katie DeVaney/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Florida State (13-13, 6-7 ACC) comes into this game on winning six of their last eight and wanting to get back above .500 for the first time since December. Clemson (20-7, 10-3 ACC) welcomes the Seminoles to the Littlejohn Coleseum looking to establish themselves as a tournament team.
With just 6 games to go, the Seminoles are fighting to keep their heads above the figurative .500 water. And they did just that. The Seminoles defeated Clemson, 70-65.
First Half
The Seminoles and Tigers both started incredibly slowly, with a score of just 7-5 through the first 7 minutes. Clemson was just 2 of 13 on field goals through the first 8 minutes, but responded after the second media timeout with a quick layup. The Tigers continually missed their shots, entered another scoring drought of more than two minutes, and with nine minutes to play, Clemson was once again one of their last seven. Though Florida State only led by four at this point.
The Tigers turned it around, going on an 8-0 run, and Florida State entered a scoring drought of three minutes. Clemson would lead 26-25, but not for long, as Martin Sommerville hit a three to make three straight threes in a row, yet Clemson had also made six straight shots in a row. At the end of the first half, Clemson led 36-33.
Second Half
To open the second half, it was a faster start than the first, with both the Seminoles and Tigers scoring at least 6 before the first media timeout. Florida State would go on a run of shooting their last five of seven to retake the lead at 46-42, and Clemson entered another scoring drought with 13 minutes remaining. The Seminoles extended their lead to six thanks to a Thomas Bassong pair of free throws, and at the second media timeout, it was 50-44.
Florida State would make four of their next five shots, yet Clemson remained in it with a pair of threes. They were on an 8-0 run to tie the game at 55-55. The Seminoles entered a scoring drought of two minutes, in part thanks to the first missed free throw of the game. A foul on Clemson’s Efrem Johnson with 7:53 left put Florida State in a position to retake the lead. They did just that, making it a 60-57 game in part because Clemson had no field goals in three and half minutes after the third media timeout. Three straight missed threes by Clemson certainly did not help the Tigers.
After the final media timeout, the Seminoles led by one, 61-60. A jumper by Dillon Hunter retook the lead, but a foul by Ace Buckner gave FSU the opportunity for the one and one. Robert Mccray made both, of course. While Clemson made a three, Mccray responded with a three of his own. At the two minute mark, Alex Steen stole it away from Clemson and yet another layup from Mccray put the Noles up by three. The score stood at 68-65 as Clemson took their final timeout after missing every shot in the last two minutes, with just 38 seconds to go.
A missed three by Dillon Hunter and foul on RJ Godfrey gave Lajae Jones an opportunity for a free throw, but it was missed. Ace Buckner missed his fifth consecutive shot in attempting a three-pointer to tie. With 11 seconds to go, Buckner fouled to save as much time as he could. Mccray put the dagger in Clemson’s heart with a pair of made free throws. Clemson missed the three, and that’s the game.
First win at Clemson in seven years!
Player of the Game
Robert Mccray legacy game. 29 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists. Business as usual for him. Credit really goes to the entire FSU team. No one wants to play them right now.
What’s Next?
The Seminoles win and move to 14-13 as the tournament(s) inch closer. The Seminoles are hosting Miami on Feb. 24, and you can catch that game at 9:00 PM ET from Tallahassee. The game will be aired on the ACC Network.
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