Donnie Freeman stole the show at the JMA Wireless Dome, leading Syracuse to a 94-86 victory over Florida State with a dominating 25-point, 8-rebound performance. The Orange's high-powered offense proved too much for the Seminoles to handle, as Syracuse improved to 12-6 on the season.
The game got off to a fast-paced start, with Syracuse taking a 43-40 lead into halftime. The Orange's offense was clicking on all cylinders, with Freeman and Tyler Betsey combining for 25 points in the first half. Florida State's Kobe MaGee kept his team in the game, scoring 12 points in the first 20 minutes.
In the second half, Syracuse continued to push the pace, with J.J. Starling adding 10 points to help the Orange pull away. MaGee did his best to keep the Seminoles in the game, finishing with 20 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced Syracuse attack. Martin Somerville and Robert McCray V added 18 and 14 points, respectively, for Florida State, but the Seminoles' defense struggled to contain the Orange's scorers.
Syracuse's 51-point second half was the difference-maker, as the Orange shot over 50% from the field and knocked down several key three-pointers. The win was a crucial one for Syracuse, as it marked a Quadrant 3 victory for the Orange. For Florida State, the loss was a Quadrant 1 defeat, a tough pill to swallow for a team looking to bolster its tournament resume.
With the win, Syracuse moves to 12-6 on the season, with its NET ranking sitting at 74. The Orange want to build on this momentum as they continue through their schedule. For Florida State, the loss drops the Seminoles to 8-11, with their NET ranking at 133. While the defeat is certainly a setback, Florida State has shown flashes of brilliance this season and want to regroup and make a push for the postseason.
This result has real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. Syracuse's win over Florida State, while not a marquee victory, is still a valuable addition to the Orange's resume. As the season wears on, Syracuse must continue to rack up wins, particularly in Quadrant 1 and 2 games, to solidify its position on the bubble. For Florida State, the loss is a missed opportunity to pick up a Quadrant 3 win, and the Seminoles must be nearly perfect the rest of the way to have any hope of sneaking into the tournament field.