Stanford Shows Fight Late, But Falls to Florida State in ACC Road Battle
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Stanford men’s basketball wrapped up its Florida swing with a hard-fought but frustrating 88-80 loss to Florida State on the road. The Cardinal drop to 14-8 on the season and 3-6 in ACC play, while the Seminoles picked up their first-ever win over Stanford in three tries.
Despite the loss, there were some standout performances - none bigger than freshman Ebuka Okorie, who continues to look more like a star-in-the-making with every game. Okorie poured in 26 points, including a scorching 23 in the second half, and added four assists. His ability to take over late kept Stanford within striking distance, even as the game threatened to slip away.
Okorie’s second-half surge wasn’t just about scoring - it was a continuation of a season that’s rapidly becoming one for the Stanford record books. He moved into eighth all-time in field goals made by a Cardinal freshman (134), jumped to ninth in three-pointers made (36), and now sits second in free throws made (131), just nine shy of tying Todd Lichti’s freshman record.
He also tied for 10th in freshman steals with 29. That’s a lot of history being rewritten - and we’re still in early February.
Around him, Stanford got solid contributions. Benny Gealer knocked down four threes en route to 12 points, while AJ Rohosy and Donavin Young each chipped in double figures with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Oskar Giltay did a little bit of everything - grabbing nine boards, swatting three shots, swiping two steals, and adding four points to round out a gritty performance.
Offensively, Stanford was able to generate good looks from deep, finishing with 12 made threes. The bench also came through with a 24-10 scoring edge, showing the kind of depth that can be a weapon in conference play. But turnovers and free throws told the story in this one - and not in Stanford’s favor.
Florida State capitalized on mistakes, turning Cardinal turnovers into 18 points. And while Stanford struggled to get to the line consistently, the Seminoles built a cushion at the stripe, which proved critical down the stretch.
Stanford started strong, jumping out to a 16-11 lead behind threes from Gealer and Jeremy Dent-Smith (who finished with seven points). But Florida State responded with a 13-2 run midway through the first half to flip the momentum. By halftime, the Seminoles had built an eight-point lead, 41-33.
That lead ballooned to as much as 19 with under 10 minutes to play, but Stanford didn’t fold. Okorie put the team on his back, scoring 12 straight points to trim the deficit to 13. A fastbreak finish by Jaylen Thompson made it 83-74 with just under two minutes left, and suddenly, the Cardinal were within striking distance.
But time - and possessions - ran out. Florida State did just enough to hold off the late charge and close out the win.
For Stanford, it’s a loss that stings, but also one that shows this team’s fight. Okorie’s emergence continues to be a silver lining, and the supporting cast is finding ways to contribute.
The challenge now? Turning those flashes into full 40-minute efforts as the ACC schedule rolls on.