Isaiah Evans’ Career Night Propels No. 6 Duke to Gritty 91-87 Road Win Over Florida State…Read More….
**TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —** In a game that felt more like a March thriller than an early January ACC clash, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans erupted for a career-high 28 points, including six 3-pointers, to lead No. 6 Duke to a hard-fought 91-87 victory over Florida State on Saturday afternoon at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
The Blue Devils (13-1, 2-0 ACC) survived a relentless Seminoles squad that refused to fold, trailing for much of the first half and battling back multiple times in the second. But when it mattered most, Evans — the 6-foot-6 sharpshooter who has been streaky at times this season — delivered in clutch moments, icing the game with free throws down the stretch and providing the offensive spark Duke desperately needed on the road.
“This isn’t just about one guy, but Isaiah was huge tonight,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said postgame. “He’s been working on his confidence, his shot selection, and tonight it all came together. Moments like these on the road in the ACC — that’s what builds champions.”
Evans, who entered the game averaging around 12 points per contest, surpassed his previous career high of 26 points with an efficient 8-of-17 shooting performance, including 6-of-14 from beyond the arc. Four of those triples came in the second half, when Duke needed buckets to stave off Florida State’s surges. He was perfect from the free-throw line (6-for-6), including a pair with under 10 seconds left to seal the win.
The game started as a 3-point shootout, with both teams trading blows from deep. Florida State (7-8, 0-2 ACC) jumped out hot, hitting 5 of their first 6 attempts from long range to build an early 17-11 lead. The Seminoles’ guards, led by Chauncey Wiggins and Robert McCray V (both with 22 points), kept the pressure on, exploiting Duke’s occasional defensive lapses in transition.
Duke responded with balanced scoring early, as Caleb Foster drained a buzzer-beater 3 to keep things close, and Dame Sarr knocked down corner triples to stay within striking distance. By halftime, the teams were knotted at 42-42, with Evans and freshman phenom Cameron Boozer each already in double figures.
The second half saw Duke flip the script, emphasizing interior attacks and ball movement. The Blue Devils dished out 23 assists on 28 made field goals — a season-high 82.1% assist rate — showcasing their unselfish play. Brothers Cameron and Cayden Boozer combined for 15 of those assists, with Cameron posting a career-high nine dimes to go along with 17 points, five rebounds, and four steals.
Cameron Boozer, the national scoring leader entering the game at 23.5 points per contest, faced constant double-teams from Florida State but remained poised, finding open teammates and attacking the rim when opportunities arose. His playmaking was pivotal in the final minutes, as he hit key free throws to maintain Duke’s slim lead.
“We knew they’d load up on Cam,” Scheyer noted. “But that’s where our depth shines. Guys like Isaiah step up, and our ball movement wears teams down.”
Florida State refused to go quietly. Trailing by five late, the Seminoles clawed back with a 13-4 run fueled by their hot 3-point shooting (14-of-30 on the game). Kobe MaGee’s triple with 23 seconds left cut the deficit to 87-85, forcing Duke to the line. Evans calmly sank both free throws, and after a missed contested 3 from MaGee, the Blue Devils escaped with the win.
Defensively, Duke forced 15 turnovers while committing only 10, and they dominated the free-throw line, going 23-of-25 (.920) compared to Florida State’s 11-of-16. The Blue Devils also held a slight rebounding edge (31-24), with Patrick Ngongba II and Foster grabbing six boards each.
This victory marks Duke’s second straight gritty ACC road win to open conference play, following their comeback against Georgia Tech on New Year’s Eve. With only one loss on the season (a narrow defeat to Texas Tech in December), the Blue Devils continue to assert themselves as national title contenders under Scheyer, who improved to 100-28 in his young head coaching career.
Evans’ breakout performance adds another layer to Duke’s loaded roster, already featuring projected 2026 NBA lottery picks like Cameron Boozer (ranked as high as No. 3 by some scouts) and others such as Ngongba and Sarr. The sophomore’s ability to stretch defenses with his shooting — combined with improved slashing and defensive activity (two blocks and a steal against FSU) — could be the X-factor as the schedule toughens.
For Florida State, the loss stings but highlights their competitiveness under first-year coach Luke Loucks. Despite dropping to 0-2 in ACC play, the Seminoles pushed two ranked teams (UNC and Duke) to the wire in recent games, showing they could play spoiler down the stretch.
Duke now heads into a marquee matchup on Tuesday, traveling to face No. 16 Louisville in another tough road environment. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
With performances like Evans’ career night, the Blue Devils are proving they’re built for these battles — and perhaps a deep March run.
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