Jamir Watkins collected 19 points and nine assists to fuel host Florida State to an 87-82 victory over Wake Forest on Tuesday in Tallahassee, Fla.
Watkins finished 11-for-11 from the free-throw line for the Seminoles (9-6, 3-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), who have won a season-high three in a row and five of their last six games overall.
Darin Green Jr. recorded 17 points and five steals and Baba Miller added a career-high 14 points for Florida State. The Seminoles shot 50.9 percent from the floor (28 of 55) and took advantage of 20 turnovers en route to halting Wake Forest’s nine-game winning streak.
Cameron Hildreth scored 25 points and ACC Player of the Week Kevin Miller added 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists for the Demon Deacons (11-4, 3-1). Parker Friedrichsen contributed 13 points off the bench.
Wake Forest was nursing a 69-67 lead when Florida State located the switch to its offense. Watkins made a pair of free throws and converted a three-point play before Green sank a 3-pointer as part of a 15-3 run.
Hildreth and Hunter Sallis each drained a 3-pointer and Kevin Miller added a jumper to trim the Seminoles’ lead to 83-80 with 32 seconds to play. Jalen Warley and Watkins each made their free throws to seal the win.
Florida State scored 14 of the first 16 points in the second half to seize a 56-43 lead before Wake Forest began to rally. Kevin Miller scored six quick points during the sequence to give the Demon Deacons a 69-67 edge with 6:19 to play.
Florida State took advantage of several turnovers by Wake Forest to claim a 27-15 lead, but the Demon Deacons quickly turned the tide. Friedrichsen drilled two 3-pointers as part of a 23-7 run by Wake Forest before Baba Miller scored five points in the final 39 seconds to give the Seminoles a 42-41 advantage at halftime.
–Field Level Media