In a thrilling college basketball showdown, Florida State triumphed over SMU with a 76-69 victory, marking an emotional milestone for coach Leonard Hamilton in his final home game at the Donald L. Tucker Center before retiring at the season’s close. The win not only gave Hamilton his 200th ACC regular-season victory, solidifying his place as the fourth-winningest coach in conference history, but also increased his total wins in the ACC to 438, making him the fifth most victorious coach in that regard.
On the court, Malique Ewin delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high 26 points and securing eight rebounds. Jamir Watkins also contributed significantly, amassing 20 points and matching Ewin with eight rebounds, while Jerry Deng added 11 points to help the Seminoles (17-14, 8-12) break a four-game losing streak by shooting an impressive 48% from the field.
Despite the loss, SMU’s Boopie Miller led the Mustangs with 16 points, while Matt Cross scored 13, Kario Oquendo contributed 12, and Chuck Harris added 11, shooting 42% as a team.
Florida State maintained an unbroken lead in the second half, though the gap never exceeded seven points. With under two minutes to play, Watkins’ fadeaway jumper widened the lead, but SMU’s Miller quickly answered back with a layup. After gaining possession through a turnover, SMU’s Cross missed a critical 3-pointer, and Florida State’s Justin Thomas seized the rebound. Following a foul, Thomas sunk one of two free throws, cementing a six-point lead with just 25.5 seconds remaining. B.J. Edwards’ final 3-point attempt was partially blocked, allowing the Seminoles to seal the win with another free throw.
Early in the game, SMU led until Florida State’s decisive 8-0 run, fueled by four free throws from Watkins, which positioned them ahead 33-27 heading into the end of the first half. However, Miller’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer reduced the deficit to just one point.
As both teams prepare for their next challenge, they are set to compete in the upcoming conference tournament, commencing on Tuesday and lasting until next Saturday in Charlotte, North Carolina.
