TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In a strong performance on Saturday, Daquan Davis led Florida State with 18 points as the Seminoles secured a solid 90-74 victory against Syracuse.

The second half proved decisive for Florida State, who put up an impressive 54 points while shooting 57% from the field and converting 18 free throws. Other notable contributions came from Taylor Bol Bowen and Malique Ewin, both of whom added 14 points to the scoreboard, with Bowen also grabbing 10 rebounds.

Florida State began the second half with a surge, rapidly scoring 12 points in just three minutes to establish a 48-39 advantage. The Seminoles extended their lead significantly, notching an 11-2 run that culminated in a 68-55 score with under nine minutes remaining.

Syracuse attempted to close the gap, with Chris Bell, Lucas Taylor, and Donnie Freeman knocking down three-pointers to bring the score to 73-66 as the game approached the five-minute mark. However, Florida State responded effectively, capitalizing on free-throw opportunities. Watkins sank 5 of 8 from the charity stripe in the final stretch, while Davis remained flawless, hitting all 6 of his attempts. The Seminoles ended the game with a remarkable 23 of 31 from the free-throw line, with Davis going a perfect 10 for 10 and Watkins making 9 of 13.

Syracuse, now with a record of 6-8 and 0-3 in the conference, saw five of its players score in double figures, with Bell leading the team with 18 points off the bench. Freeman recorded a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while JJ Starling, Lucas Taylor, and Kyle Cuffe Jr. added 12, 10, and 10 points, respectively.

The loss means that Syracuse continues to struggle against power conference teams, as they have yet to register a victory against such opponents this season. In addition to their three losses in the ACC, they have also been defeated by other teams, including Texas and Tennessee.

This matchup marked Florida State’s first game following reports of a lawsuit from six former players against head coach Leonard Hamilton. They claim he failed to secure promised name, image, and likeness deals worth $250,000.

Looking ahead, Syracuse will take on Georgia Tech on Tuesday, while Florida State is set to face Miami on Wednesday.