Isaiah Evans shoots Duke basketball past Florida State in high-scoring ACC game

Chip Alexander, The News & Observer on Jan 3, 2026

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — No team takes more 3-pointers a game than the Florida State Seminoles.

Not that the Noles lead the country in 3-point makes, just takes.

But when the 3s are going down, as they were Saturday against No. 6 Duke, the Seminoles are a dangerous team. Playing at home also helps and the energy and noise level in the Donald Tucker center was impressive Saturday from a less-than-sellout crowd.

But Duke answered with its best 3-point shooter, Isaiah Evans, who finished with 28 points in pacing an entertaining 91-87 victory.

After Evans missed his first two 3-pointers, the Noles left him open in the corner. Bad idea: Evans made the 3-pointer and it got him started. He ended up with six.

Also on the mark Saturday was Dame Sarr, whose first season at Duke and playing college basketball has been inconsistent. But Sarr looked the part of a confident, savvy player Saturday, knocking down three 3-pointers and scoring 13 points.

This was a game where freshman Cameron Boozer again crammed the stat sheet. His final numbers were 17 points and five rebounds as the Noles often looked to double-team him, but he also had nine assists.

The Seminoles, averaging 36.5 3-point shots, began the game taking and making 3-pointers. They knocked down five of their first six shots from the arc and were 8 of 17 on 3-pointers in the opening half, which ended in a 42-42 tie.

When Duke would make a surge in the second half, the Noles would answer with a 3. Duke was grinding away, leading 51-46, when Rodney McCray V and then Chauncey Wiggins drained 3-pointers to quickly push FSU back in front.

But Duke was hitting from distance, too. The Blue Devils surged to a 74-65 lead midway through the second half. When FSU pulled within 79-76, Caleb Foster swished a 3-pointer from the left wing and soon Evans hit another.

The Devils also turned to a zone defense in the second half, just as they did in their ACC opener against Georgia Tech to better blanket the 3-point shooters.

The Blue Devils continue on the road with a game Tuesday against Louisville.

Here are some observations from the game:

Mental toughness needed

Mental toughness is needed to win on the road in the ACC. There has to be that grit in a league that is so even in talent.

Not much separated Duke and Florida State in Saturday’s game The Blue Devils have more overall talent, most would agree, but the Noles refused to let the game get away from them.

A McCray 3 with 53 seconds remaining got the Noles within 85-82, but Cameron Boozer hit a pair from the line with 26 seconds left. Evans then hit another pair to ice it.

It’s a matter of concentration, but also toughness.

Rebounding a team effort

The Devils aren’t a great rebounding team. Very good, but not great.

Cameron Boozer is the space eater inside and strength with his sure hands. He gets his share of boards but that includes the short shots he misses inside and then rebounds.

Ngongba is an inconsistent rebounder, and everyone else has to do their part – Cayden Boozer, at 6-4, is quick to ball as is Caleb Foster and Sarr.

Everyone has to contribute for this Duke team – Nik Khamenia, Maliq Brown, Evans.

Duke won the rebounding edge, 31-24, over FSU with Ngongba and Foster leading the Blue Devils with six rebounds each. Cam Boozer and Brown each had five. Every Duke player who saw at least 10 minutes of play had at least one rebound.

Missing Leonard Hamilton

It’s not the same coming to the Donald L. Tucker Center and not seeing Leonard Hamilton in front of the FSU bench with his intent glare. Or having longtime assistant coach Stan Jones hover his shoulder with some X-and-O advice.

Hamilton was Florida State basketball for so long., his image iconic. He won 404 games with the Seminoles. He won the school’s first ACC regular season title in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic stopped the season, and his Noles finished No. 4 nationally, the program’s highest.

But Hamilton, like several of his coaching peers, tired of dealing with the portal, NIL promises and an ever-changing roster. He retired after last season and FSU hired Luke Loucks, who played for Hamilton at FSU and later was a part of two NBA championships as a member of the Warriors staff.

Hamilton believed it was time to retire. But the Tucker Center seems a little empty without him.

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