CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In a nail-biting first round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament, J.J. Starling led Syracuse to a 66-62 victory over Florida State on Tuesday at the Spectrum Center, scoring an impressive 27 points. The win now propels the 14th-seeded Syracuse (14-18) into the second round, where they will face the No. 6 seed, Southern Methodist University (SMU), on Wednesday.
Starling’s stellar performance included sinking 12 of 23 shots, alongside three successful 3-pointers and collecting five rebounds. Eddie Lampkin Jr. contributed significantly with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Jyare Davis added 14 points, securing an additional six rebounds for the Orange.
For the Seminoles, who entered the tournament as the 11th seed with a record of 17-15, Jamir Watkins was the standout player, scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Key contributions also came from reserves Daquan Davis and Jerry Deng, each adding 10 points to Florida State’s tally.
In a tense finish, Syracuse’s late turnover allowed Malique Ewin to score, narrowing the gap to just one point with nine seconds remaining. However, when Ewin fouled Kyle Cuffe Jr., Cuffe made both of his free throws to extend Syracuse’s lead to three points. Intent on preventing a last-second 3-pointer, Syracuse fouled Daquan Davis, who made his first free throw but missed the second. Jyare Davis seized the rebound and was subsequently fouled, making both his shots from the line to cement the victory.
In the first half, Lampkin played a crucial role, scoring 12 points and securing six rebounds, helping Syracuse to a 30-26 lead at halftime. The Orange maintained the advantage throughout, never trailing in the final 17 minutes. In the second half, baskets from Starling and Davis quickly increased Syracuse’s lead. Naheem McLeod’s emphatic dunk pushed the Orange’s lead to its largest, a commanding 50-34, with just over 13 minutes left to play.
Despite Florida State’s efforts to close the gap, the final minute was pivotal. Watkins’ three successful free throws put the Seminoles within striking distance, trailing 62-59 with just 48 seconds on the clock, but Syracuse’s resilience under pressure secured them the hard-fought win.
