GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — Robert McCray scored 29 points to lift Florida State to a 70-65 upset of Clemson in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Bi-Lo Center. The Seminoles (14-13) overcame a significant pregame projection favoring the Tigers (20-8) by shooting 50% from the floor and making 10 3-pointers. Florida State held Clemson to 37.5% shooting. McCray added six rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes. Lajae Jones scored 13 points for Florida State. Efrem Johnson led Clemson with nine points. The Tigers outrebounded Florida State on the offensive glass but could not overcome their poor shooting night.

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — Robert McCray V scored 29 points and Florida State executed with precision down the stretch to upset Clemson 70-65 in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Bi-Lo Center. The Seminoles (14-13, 4-10 ACC), who entered as significant underdogs, snapped a two-game skid and handed the Tigers (20-8, 9-6) their third consecutive defeat. The outcome defied national projections that gave Clemson an 89% probability of victory and the pregame betting line that installed the Tigers as 9.5-point favorites. The most critical sequence unfolded in the final 90 seconds with Florida State clinging to a one-point lead. After Clemson’s Dillon Hunter connected on a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to 67-65 with 44 seconds left, the Seminoles’ offense worked the clock. McCray, the dynamic 6-foot-4 guard from Columbia, South Carolina, drove hard into the lane and converted a contested layup with 37 seconds remaining, pushing the lead back to four. On the ensuing possession, Clemson’s RJ Godfrey missed a layup and McCray secured the defensive rebound, one of his six on the night. Fouled immediately, he calmly sank both free throws with 11 seconds left to seal the five-point victory. McCray scored 11 of Florida State’s final 13 points, showcasing the clutch performance that has defined his recent play, including a 27-point effort in a win over Boston College earlier in the week. The game was a defensive struggle defined by inefficient offense from the home team. Florida State shot 50% from the field (23 of 46) and 41.7% from 3-point range (10 of 24), while Clemson managed just 37.5% shooting overall (21 of 56) and 30.3% from beyond the arc (10 of 33). The Seminoles also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 14 of 16 attempts compared to Clemson’s 13 of 15. Clemson’s offensive rating of 104.6 points per 100 possessions paled in comparison to Florida State’s mark of 117.4, illustrating the Seminoles’ superior efficiency on a afternoon where possessions were nearly even. The Tigers did hold a significant advantage on the offensive glass, grabbing nine rebounds to Florida State’s three, but could not translate those extra chances into enough points. Beyond McCray’s game-high output, Lajae Jones added 13 points and three blocks for Florida State. Alex Steen contributed four points, five rebounds and three assists, while his frontcourt mate Thomas Bassong added six points and two blocks. Clemson was led by Ace Buckner with 15 points. Dillon Hunter scored 13 points and dished out three assists, and RJ Godfrey finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Efrem Johnson came off the bench to score nine points, all on 3-pointers. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring eight lead changes. A late flurry by the Tigers, capped by a Hunter layup just before the buzzer, gave Clemson a 36-34 edge at halftime. The second half remained tight, with neither team leading by more than six points. Florida State’s ability to get stops and McCray’s offensive heroics in the final minutes proved the difference. The loss damages Clemson’s positioning in the ACC standings as the regular season winds down. The Tigers will look to regroup when they host Louisville next Saturday. Florida State, meanwhile, will aim to build momentum from this significant road win when they host Miami on Tuesday. The total points scored, 135, fell well under the pregame over/under line of 143.5.

Preview: Surging Seminoles Face Slumping Tigers in ACC Clash GREENVILLE, S.C. (Interstat) — A surging Florida State squad will look to continue its recent turnaround against a Clemson team aiming to halt a February slide when the Seminoles visit the Tigers in an Atlantic Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday. The matchup at the Bi-Lo Center pits two teams on divergent trajectories. Florida State (13-13, 6-8 ACC) has won four of its last five games, including a 92-69 rout at Virginia Tech and an 80-72 home victory over Boston College on Tuesday. Clemson (20-7, 9-5), once ranked, has lost three consecutive conference games, most recently an 85-77 defeat at Wake Forest on Wednesday. The Seminoles’ resurgence has been fueled by guard Robert McCray. Over his last eight games, McCray is averaging 18.9 points and 4.6 assists, including a 27-point, 5-assist performance against Boston College. His dynamic scoring and playmaking will be central to Florida State’s attack. Clemson will counter with forward Jake Wahlin, who scored 17 points in the loss to Wake Forest. Wahlin has been a key contributor during the Tigers’ successful season, posting 13 points and 8 rebounds in a win at Georgia Tech last month. However, Clemson’s offense has sputtered during its losing streak, failing to reach 70 points in the three defeats. The Tigers won the season’s first meeting, 74-66, in Tallahassee on Jan. 3. Clemson’s defense held Florida State to 36.2% shooting in that game. For Florida State, a victory would move them to .500 overall and bolster their late-season momentum. For Clemson, ranked earlier this season, the game is a critical opportunity to stabilize its postseason positioning and avoid a fourth straight ACC loss. Saturday’s contest is part of a single-game event at the Bi-Lo Center. Clemson’s next home game at Littlejohn Coliseum is scheduled for Feb. 28 against Louisville. Florida State travels to Miami on Feb. 24.