Isaiah Evans Explodes as No. 6 Duke Outguns Florida State in Thrilling High-Scoring ACC Shootout
**Tallahassee, FL – January 4, 2026** – In a game that lived up to every bit of its pregame hype, sophomore guard Isaiah Evans poured in a season-high 28 points, including six three-pointers, to lead the No. 6 Duke Blue Devils to a hard-fought 98-92 victory over the Florida State Seminoles in an electric, high-scoring ACC showdown at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
The contest was a back-and-forth offensive explosion from the opening tip, with both teams trading blows in a fast-paced affair that saw the lead change hands 12 times and neither side leading by more than 10 points until the final minutes. Duke (13-1, 2-0 ACC) shot a blistering 54% from the field and knocked down 14 three-pointers, while Florida State (7-8, 0-2 ACC) kept pace with their trademark up-tempo style, forcing 18 turnovers and scoring 32 points off Duke miscues.
Evans, nicknamed “Showtime Slim” for his smooth shooting stroke, was the undisputed star of the night. The 6-6 guard from Huntersville, North Carolina, caught fire early, hitting four threes in the first half alone to keep Duke afloat during Florida State’s early surges. He finished 10-of-17 from the field, 6-of-11 from beyond the arc, and added 5 rebounds and 3 assists with just one turnover in 32 minutes of action.
“This one felt special,” Evans said postgame, surrounded by reporters in the visiting locker room. “FSU plays so fast, and they crowd you on defense. But my teammates kept finding me, and Coach Scheyer just told me to keep shooting with confidence. When those shots start falling, it’s a great feeling.”
Duke head coach Jon Scheyer praised Evans’ performance as a sign of his growing maturity in his sophomore season. “Isaiah has that special ability to heat up in a hurry,” Scheyer said. “He’s averaging over 12 points coming into this, but tonight he showed why he’s one of the best shooters in the country. He carried us at times when FSU was making runs.”
The Blue Devils were led as usual by freshman sensation Cameron Boozer, who posted yet another double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds, along with 5 assists and 2 steals. Boozer, the nation’s leading scorer entering the game at 23.5 points per contest, was relentless in the paint, drawing fouls and converting 8-of-10 free throws. His twin brother, Cayden Boozer, chipped in 12 points off the bench, including a pair of clutch threes in the fourth quarter.
But it was Evans who sealed the win. With Florida State clawing back to within three points at 89-86 with 4:12 remaining, Evans drained back-to-back threes – the second a step-back over a closing defender – to push Duke’s lead to nine and effectively put the game out of reach.
Florida State, playing their home ACC opener under first-year head coach Luke Loucks, refused to go quietly. Senior guard Robert McCray V led the Seminoles with 22 points and 9 assists, constantly pushing the tempo and creating open looks for his teammates. Forward Chauncey Wiggins added 19 points, including five threes, while Kobe MaGee contributed 16 points and harassed Duke’s guards full-court for much of the night.
The Seminoles shot 48% from the field and hit 12 threes themselves, living up to their reputation as one of the ACC’s most dangerous perimeter teams. They forced Duke into uncharacteristic sloppiness at times, particularly in the second half when the Blue Devils turned it over 11 times.
“We knew coming in that FSU was going to try to speed us up and turn this into a track meet,” Scheyer noted. “They did exactly that, and credit to them – they made big shots all night. But our guys stayed composed, shared the ball, and made enough plays down the stretch.”
The first half set the tone for the fireworks. Duke jumped out to an early 15-8 lead behind Boozer’s interior dominance, but Florida State responded with a 14-4 run fueled by McCray’s playmaking and transition buckets. Evans’ hot hand kept the Blue Devils close, and they took a slim 48-45 lead into halftime after a Cayden Boozer buzzer-beater from half-court rimmed in.
The second half was pure chaos. Florida State opened with a 10-2 spurt to grab a five-point edge, but Duke answered with a 15-5 counterpunch, highlighted by Evans’ third and fourth threes. The teams traded leads throughout the period, with the crowd of over 12,000 roaring on every possession.
Defensively, Duke’s length bothered the Seminoles inside, as center Patrick Ngongba II recorded 4 blocks and altered several more shots. Ngongba finished with 10 points and 8 rebounds, providing a strong presence in the paint.
For Florida State, the loss drops them to 0-2 in conference play after a tough road defeat to North Carolina earlier in the week. Despite the setback, Loucks saw positives in his team’s effort against one of the nation’s top teams.
“We competed for 40 minutes against a really talented Duke squad,” Loucks said. “We forced them into tough shots at times and got out in transition. If we clean up some turnovers and finish a few more possessions, this could have gone our way. But that’s a good basketball team, and we’ll learn from it.”
The win keeps Duke atop the ACC standings and extends their winning streak to six games. It also marks their 10th straight victory over Florida State in the series, dating back to 2022.
Up next for the Blue Devils is a home matchup against Virginia on January 8, while Florida State hits the road to face Clemson.
**Box Score Highlights:**
– **Duke:** Evans 28 pts, Boozer 24 pts/11 reb, Cay. Boozer 12 pts, Ngongba 10 pts
– **Florida State:** McCray 22 pts/9 ast, Wiggins 19 pts, MaGee 16 pts
– **Team Stats:** Duke 54% FG, 14-28 3PT; FSU 48% FG, 12-30 3PT
– **Turnovers:** Duke 18, FSU 12
– **Points in Paint:** Duke 44, FSU 38
In a league known for its parity, nights like this remind everyone why ACC basketball is must-watch entertainment. Isaiah Evans’ shooting clinic was the difference, propelling Duke past a feisty Florida State team in a game that won’t soon be forgotten.
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