Seminoles Stun Cal in Gritty 63-61 Win Behind Wiggins’ Big Night
Don’t look now, but Florida State just delivered one of its most gutsy wins of the season - and it came at the expense of a Cal team that had been quietly building steam in the Pac-12.
Coming into Wednesday night, the Golden Bears were riding high at 15-5, led by head coach and three-time NBA champion Mark Madsen, and featuring a roster with some serious basketball lineage - including Justin Pippen, son of Bulls legend Scottie Pippen. But none of that pedigree could stop the Seminoles from pulling off a 63-61 upset in Tallahassee.
Florida State came out swinging, jumping to a 15-point lead early. That fast start proved crucial, because Cal didn’t go quietly.
The Bears clawed their way back and even took a late 59-58 lead with under four minutes to go. But FSU didn’t flinch.
With the game tied at 60, Chauncey Wiggins stepped up and delivered the shot of the night - a smooth six-foot turnaround jumper that put the ‘Noles back in front for good. From there, it was about composure, defense, and just enough execution to hold on.
Milos Ilic had a chance to tie it for Cal at the free-throw line but hit only one of two, trimming the lead to 62-61. Florida State missed a couple of looks on the next possession, giving Cal another shot to steal the win.
But the Bears couldn’t capitalize. Dai Dai Ames missed two straight shots, including a tough driving layup, and John Camden came up short on a deep three.
Lajae Jones hit one from the stripe to make it 63-61, setting up one final chance for Cal.
That chance fell to Justin Pippen, who had the ball in his hands with the game on the line. He pulled up from 25 feet - and missed.
The buzzer sounded, and the Tucker Center erupted. FSU had its second ACC win of the season, and it was a big one.
Let’s put this win in context: Florida State entered the night with just a single conference victory - a narrow upset over Miami - and had just taken a tough loss to SMU. Their ACC record sat at 1-5. But on this night, they looked like a team with something to prove.
The Seminoles edged Cal on the boards, 42-41, with Lajae Jones leading the way with eight rebounds. Thomas Bassong added six more. Jones also made his presence felt on defense, swatting two shots, including a chase-down block that erased a fast-break layup and sent a clear message: FSU wasn’t going to be outworked.
Wiggins was the offensive engine all night. He poured in 18 points - his second-highest scoring output of the season - and did it efficiently, going 7-of-9 from the field and hitting three shots from beyond the arc. He logged 31 minutes for the second time in three games and looked every bit like the go-to guy Florida State needs.
Robert McCray V chipped in 11 points in a starting role, shooting 5-of-10 from the field, though he couldn’t get any of his three-point attempts to drop. Jones added nine points of his own, and A.J. Swinton gave the bench a boost with six.
It wasn’t always pretty, and it certainly wasn’t easy, but this was a win that showed grit, growth, and maybe even a little glimpse of what this Florida State team could become. For a squad that’s been fighting to find its footing in the ACC, this was more than just a win - it was a statement.