NCAA BASKETBALL: Robert McCray, red-hot Florida State best Cal

Robert McCray V scored 30 points and dished out eight assists, leading Florida State to a 95-89 win over Cal and a quarterfinal clash with top-seeded Duke. The Seminoles dominated with hot shooting and a 21-2 first-half run that turned an early deficit into control.

FIELD LEVEL MEDIA / Reuters

March 12, 2026

Florida State Seminoles guard Robert McCray V. (6) scores in the second half during the NCAA tournament game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina on March 11, 2026.

Bob Donnan / Reuters

Robert McCray V delivered 30 points and eight assists to propel eighth-seeded Florida State to a 95-89 victory over ninth-seeded Cal in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament Wednesday.

Lajae Jones added 15 points, and Chauncey Wiggins contributed 14 for the Seminoles (18-14), who have won 10 of their last 12 games under first-year coach Luke Loucks. Kobe MaGee came off the bench to score all 13 of his points in the first half as Florida State advanced to a quarterfinal matchup with top-seeded Duke on Thursday in Charlotte.

After trailing early, the Seminoles took control in the first half, shooting 57.4% overall and making 13 of 28 attempts (46.4%) from beyond the arc. McCray made 10 of 17 shots and orchestrated an efficient offense, recording 10 assists and no turnovers in the opening half.

Cal (21-11) was led by Dai Dai Ames with 27 points. Chris Bell scored 17, Justin Pippen added 15, John Camden had 11, and Lee Dort contributed seven points and 18 rebounds. The Golden Bears shot 51% from the field and 41% from three-point range but struggled against Florida State’s combination of zone defense and man-to-man pressure.

The Golden Bears started strong with a 3-pointer from Camden giving them a 9-2 lead. McCray responded with a triple, sparking a 21-2 run for the Seminoles. During the stretch, MaGee made three 3-pointers, McCray scored three jumpers, and Alex Steen added six points, turning a six-point deficit into a 13-point lead. McCray’s floater capped the run, giving Florida State a 28-15 lead 11 minutes into the game.

Although Ames made back-to-back 3-pointers later in the half, Florida State countered with triples from McCray and Jones, taking a 46-32 lead into halftime.

Midway through the second half, McCray sealed the game with a steal and a breakaway tomahawk dunk in front of his bench. Cal never mounted a serious comeback, only trimming the deficit to single digits in the final minute.

Florida State will face top-seeded Duke in the ACC quarterfinals Thursday in Charlotte.

—Field Level Media/Reuters