In a high-octane Second Round clash at the 2026 ACC Tournament, Florida State's Robert McCray V delivered a performance for the history books, scoring a season-high 30 points to lead the eighth-seeded Seminoles to a thrilling 95-89 victory over California. McCray was nearly unstoppable at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, shooting 10-of-17 from the field and orchestrating an offense that set a program record for most points scored in an ACC Tournament game. The senior guard's takeover was punctuated by a thunderous windmill dunk off a steal, a moment that sent the FSU bench into a frenzy and signaled that the Seminoles are peaking at exactly the right time.

Seminoles’ Historic Offensive Surge

Florida State’s offensive output was nothing short of staggering. Their 95 points surpassed the previous program high in tournament play, a testament to the pace and precision implemented by head coach Luke Loucks. The Seminoles faced an early 9-2 deficit but reclaimed the lead for good midway through the first half thanks to a spark from the bench by Kobe MaGee, who finished with 13 points. By halftime, FSU held a comfortable 46-32 lead, though the Golden Bears refused to go quietly in the second period.

Alongside McCray’s 30 points, the Seminoles saw balanced contributions from Lajae Jones, who tallied 15 points, and Chauncey Wiggins with 14. This victory marks Florida State’s 11th win in their last 14 games, a remarkable turnaround after a dismal 0-5 start to conference play earlier this season. The win also secured Coach Loucks’ first-ever ACC Tournament victory, making him only the third coach in school history to win his tournament debut.

A Hard-Fought Effort from the Golden Bears

Despite the loss, Ninth-seeded California (21-11) showed the resilience that has defined their season. Dai Dai Ames was exceptional for the Bears, dropping 27 points and hitting clutch buckets late in the game to narrow the gap. Cal managed to outscore FSU 57-49 in the second half, but the first-half hole proved too deep to climb out of. Lee Dort provided a massive presence on the glass for California, pulling down a career-high 18 rebounds, but FSU’s ability to convert 12 Golden Bear turnovers into easy transition points was the ultimate differentiator.

Cal finishes their season with a respectable 21-11 record, a significant step forward for a program still finding its footing in the ACC. For Ames, the 27-point effort capped off a stellar junior campaign where he averaged over 16 points per game, establishing himself as one of the premier guards in the conference.

Quarterfinal Showdown with Top-Seeded Duke

Florida State (18-14) now advances to the Quarterfinals on Thursday, where they face their toughest test yet: the No. 1 seeded Duke Blue Devils. Duke, which finished the regular season with a 16-1 conference record, is widely considered the favorite to take the title. However, the Seminoles' current momentum and McCray's explosive scoring ability make them a dangerous out in a single-elimination setting. FSU will need to replicate their hot shooting—having made 13 three-pointers against Cal—if they hope to upset the Blue Devils and keep their March Madness dreams alive.