The Florida State Seminoles came up just short in a tightly contested battle against SMU on Saturday night, falling 83-80 at Moody Coliseum in Dallas. It was the first time these two programs faced off in SMU’s home gym, and the Mustangs made it count, evening the all-time series at two wins apiece.
Florida State, now 8-12 on the season and 1-6 in ACC play, showed flashes of resilience but couldn’t quite overcome a sluggish first half. SMU, meanwhile, improved to 15-5 overall and 4-3 in conference action, continuing their dominance at home with a 12-1 record on the season.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Seminoles found themselves in an early hole, trailing 46-34 at the break. Their offensive rhythm was off from the start - just 11-for-38 from the field (30%) and a cold 3-for-18 (17%) from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.
SMU wasn’t exactly lights-out either, but their 8-for-23 mark from three (35%) and a turnover-free first half gave them the edge. The Mustangs led by as many as 14 late in the half, taking full advantage of FSU’s offensive struggles.
But credit to Florida State - they didn’t fold.
Coming out of the locker room with renewed energy, the Seminoles launched a 16-3 run to open the second half. Lajae Jones capped it with a three-pointer that gave FSU a 50-49 lead with just over 15 minutes remaining.
It was the kind of momentum swing that can flip a game on its head. Unfortunately for the ‘Noles, SMU had a response ready.
The Mustangs answered with a 7-0 burst of their own, reclaiming the lead and setting the stage for a second half that featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes. It was a back-and-forth affair down the stretch, with both teams trading buckets and momentum. But in the end, Florida State couldn’t quite string together the stops - or the late-game execution - to pull off the comeback.
Stat Sheet Standouts
Despite the loss, there were some strong individual performances for the Seminoles. Robert McCray V led the way with 21 points and nine assists, doing everything he could to keep FSU in it.
Lajae Jones delivered a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, including that key three to spark the second-half surge. Alex Steen came close to a double-double himself, finishing with 14 points and nine boards.
Martin Somerville added 13 points, 10 of which came in the first half to help FSU stay within striking distance.
As a team, the Seminoles shot 42.3% from the field (30-of-71) and 31.3% from deep (10-of-32). They hit 10-of-15 from the line, but a few missed free throws in crunch time proved costly.
FSU did win the rebounding battle, 43-38, including an 18-13 edge on the offensive glass. That translated to a 16-11 advantage in second-chance points - a key stat that kept them in the game despite the early shooting woes.
Turnovers weren’t a major issue either - just 11 on the night - and they dished out 16 assists, showing solid ball movement, especially during their second-half run.
SMU’s Finishing Touches
For SMU, Jaron Pierre Jr. was the difference-maker. He poured in 28 points and was a constant threat, especially when FSU tried to make a push.
The Mustangs shot 44.4% from the field (28-of-63), 33.3% from three (10-of-30), and were solid from the line at 73.9% (17-of-23). All 10 of their turnovers came in the second half - a testament to FSU’s defensive pressure after the break - but they weathered the storm.
Both teams matched each other with six steals and four blocks apiece, underscoring how evenly played this game was down the stretch.
Looking Ahead
This one will sting for Florida State. They showed the kind of fight that coaches love to see, especially on the road, but couldn’t quite close the deal. The first-half shooting slump put them behind the eight ball, and while they clawed their way back, SMU’s timely buckets and poise at the free-throw line sealed it.
Still, there’s something to build on here for the Seminoles. The effort, the rebounding, the balanced scoring - those are positives they can take into their next matchup. If they can find a way to put together a full 40 minutes, this group has the potential to turn some heads down the stretch.