luke loucks picked up a milestone result on Wednesday night, March 11, 2026, as Florida State beat California 95-89 in the second round of the ACC Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Seminoles rode a season-high 30 points from Robert McCray V and a game-high eight assists to move on in the bracket. The win sends Florida State into a quarterfinal meeting with the No. 1 ranked and No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils on Thursday at 7: 00 p. m. ET.
Florida State’s 95 points, McCray V’s 30, and a quarterfinal date with Duke
Florida State improved to 18-14 with the 95-89 win, while Cal fell to 21-11. McCray V’s 30-point night set a new season high, passing his previous season-high of 29 points that he reached twice earlier this season. Florida State’s 95 points also marked the most points scored by a Seminole team in ACC Tournament history, and it was the most points Florida State scored in any ACC game this season, eclipsing its previous ACC-season high of 92 against Virginia Tech on February 14, 2026.
The milestone extended beyond the box score. With Florida State’s victory, luke loucks became the third head coach in Florida State history to win his first ACC tournament game.
How the game turned: early Cal surge, then Florida State’s decisive run
Cal struck first, opening a 9-2 lead with 16: 16 left in the first half. McCray V answered quickly with five straight points, trimming the margin to four at 11-7. Florida State grabbed its first lead at the 12: 13 mark of the first half when Kobe MaGee buried a 3-pointer, and the Seminoles did not let go after that moment.
From there, Florida State ripped off an 18-2 run to go ahead 28-15 with eight minutes remaining in the first half. The Seminoles carried a 46-32 lead into halftime, then came out firing again when Chauncey Wiggins drilled a 3-pointer to open the second half. Florida State later held a 51-39 advantage with 17: 19 left, and a Lajae Jones dunk sparked a 10-2 burst that pushed the lead to 61-41.
Immediate reactions in numbers: steals, points off turnovers, and late composure
Florida State made its pressure count. The Seminoles forced Cal into 12 turnovers, including eight steals, and converted those mistakes into 20 points off turnovers.
Individually, MaGee finished with 13 points and hit four 3-point shots, the fifth time this season he has made four or more from deep. Wiggins scored 14 points and shot. 500 from 3-point range (2-4), extending his streak to five straight games in double figures. Jones posted 15 points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals, giving him three consecutive games in double figures and marking the 13th time this season he has recorded multiple steals.
Cal mounted a late push, closing within eight at 94-86 with 20 seconds remaining. McCray V then sank a free throw for his 30th point to seal the 95-89 final.
Quick context: the bracket path and what’s next
Florida State entered the ACC Tournament as the No. 8 seed and drew Cal, the No. 9 seed, with the winner advancing into a quarterfinal matchup against Duke.
Next up, Florida State faces the No. 1 ranked and No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils on Thursday at 7: 00 p. m. ET. After a history-making offensive night and a first ACC Tournament win on the head-coaching ledger, luke loucks now leads the Seminoles into a high-stakes quarterfinal test with a spot in the ACC Tournament semifinals on the line.
