Duke Survives Tallahassee Test with Gritty 91–87 Road Win
This one felt like a real welcome-back moment for ACC basketball. Duke walked into Tallahassee and escaped with a hard-earned 91–87 win over Florida State, but make no mistake, this was far from a comfortable night for the Blue Devils. For long stretches, it actually felt like Duke was the team trying to hang on rather than the other way around.
Florida State came out firing and looked nothing like the struggling team many had grown used to seeing in recent years. Early on, shots were falling, especially from deep, and Duke’s offense was disrupted with pressure that forced turnovers and limited clean looks. Cameron Boozer, Duke’s headline star, was swarmed early, and Florida State’s defensive intensity clearly set the tone. The Seminoles were sharp, confident, and organized, and by the midpoint of the first half, it felt like they were controlling the game.
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Statistically, the teams were nearly identical by halftime, which explained why the score was tied. Both sides shot efficiently, shared the ball well, and battled on the glass. But the eye test suggested Florida State had landed the first punch. That momentum, however, didn’t last forever.
After the break, the game shifted because Isaiah Evans caught fire. His shooting had been inconsistent this season, but in Tallahassee, his signature skill showed up in a big way. Threes started dropping, trips to the line were converted, and suddenly Duke had a scorer who couldn’t be ignored. By the final horn, Evans had poured in a career-high 28 points, and that scoring burst ended up being the difference in a game where margins were razor-thin.
While Boozer didn’t explode offensively, his impact was still felt everywhere else. With Florida State limiting his scoring lanes, he adjusted and became a facilitator, finishing with nine assists. His ability to read the game kept Duke’s offense flowing when it could have stalled. Contributions were also quietly stacked up from across the roster, including solid bench minutes that helped Duke survive the toughest stretches.
One of the more subtle but crucial influences came from Maliq Brown. His box score won’t jump out, but his defensive presence disrupted Florida State’s rhythm repeatedly. Possessions were reset, passing lanes were crowded, and offensive confidence was chipped away. Those moments matter, especially in close road games like this.
In the end, Duke didn’t blink late. Free throws were made, smart decisions were taken, and the pressure was handled like a top team should. At the same time, Florida State walked away with plenty to feel good about. Under new leadership, a clear offensive identity is forming, and this performance showed real growth. Duke got the win, but the bigger story might be just how competitive the Seminoles have become.
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