Florida State Falls Just Short in Thriller at SMU, 83-80
Fresh off a gritty road win over Miami - the first ACC and away victory under head coach Luke Loucks - Florida State rolled into Dallas looking to keep the momentum alive. But in their first-ever trip to Moody Coliseum, the Seminoles came up just short in a back-and-forth battle, falling to SMU 83-80 in a game that had everything: runs, dunks, threes, and a frantic finish.
Let’s break it down.
A Tale of Two Halves
Florida State couldn’t have drawn up a colder start. The ‘Noles missed their first several shots, including multiple putback attempts, and didn’t get on the board until nearly five minutes in. SMU took advantage, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and setting the early tone.
But once FSU broke the seal, they settled in. Martin Somerville sparked the offense with a much-needed four-point play - a rare gem that tied the game and briefly swung momentum in the Seminoles’ favor. His second three-pointer gave FSU its first lead at 20-17 with just under 10 minutes left in the first half.
From there, the two teams traded punches. A Chauncey Wiggins triple answered an SMU three, but the Mustangs found their rhythm late in the half. A sharp 11-2 run helped SMU build a 14-point cushion before a pair of late free throws trimmed it to 12 at the break, 46-34.
The numbers told the story: FSU struggled mightily from deep, going just 3-of-18 from beyond the arc in the first half. Despite pulling down 18 offensive rebounds, they couldn’t cash in - shooting just 30% from the field. Meanwhile, SMU wasn’t lights-out either, but their 8-of-23 clip from three gave them the edge.
Second-Half Surge Comes Up Just Short
Whatever Loucks said in the locker room worked - Florida State came out swinging in the second half. Robert McCray, quiet in the first 20 minutes, came alive. A thunderous dunk opened the half, and he poured in seven points in the first three minutes, leading a 16-3 run that cut the deficit to two.
LaJae Jones gave FSU its first lead of the half with a three-pointer off an SMU turnover, but the Mustangs responded with a 6-0 run of their own. That set the tone for the rest of the game - neither team able to keep control for long.
McCray and Somerville kept the Seminoles in it with big plays, including a steal and layup from McCray that put FSU up 69-67. Jones, who was clutch all night, hit his second three to give Florida State a 72-69 lead with under four minutes to play.
But SMU had an answer every time. A quick 7-0 burst, capped by a made free throw, swung the game back in the Mustangs’ favor. Jones drilled his third three to make it a one-point game with just over a minute left, but missed free throws and a costly turnover in the final seconds sealed the Seminoles’ fate.
By the Numbers
McCray led the way for Florida State with 21 points on 10-of-21 shooting, adding a highlight reel’s worth of dunks and defensive plays. Jones turned in a double-double - 20 points and 12 rebounds - and went 4-of-8 from deep, giving FSU a much-needed spark from the perimeter.
Despite the loss, Florida State actually outshot SMU from the floor (30-71 vs. 28-63) and dominated the glass, pulling down 43 rebounds to SMU’s 38 - including 18 offensive boards. They also outscored the Mustangs in the paint (38-28), on second-chance points (16-11), and on the fast break (11-4). The Seminoles had five players hit at least one three-pointer, a sign of improved ball movement and shot distribution in the second half.
But the early shooting woes and some late-game execution issues - including two missed free throws and a turnover in the final minute - proved costly.
What’s Next
This one will sting, but there’s no time to dwell. Florida State heads back to Tallahassee to host Cal in a rare non-conference matchup on Wednesday night. It’ll be just the third meeting ever between the two programs, and the first time the Golden Bears have visited the Seminoles’ home floor.
If FSU can bottle up that second-half energy - and find a way to start games stronger - they’ll be a tough out moving forward.