Florida State University Athletics

Saturday, February 24
Clemson, SC
7:45 p.m.

Florida State

14-13,8-8ACC

63
at
74

Clemson

19-8,9-7ACC

1
2
F
Florida St.
28
35
63
Clemson
38
36
74

Watkins Leads Seminoles with 18 at Clemson

2/24/2024 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson's Joe Girard III scored a game-high 24 points on four made 3-point shots and a perfect 10 of 10 shooting from the free throw line to lead the Tigers to a 74-63 victory over Florida State at Littlejohn Coliseum. Girard scored 15 of his 24 points in the second half as the Tigers held the lead throughout the final 20 minutes to gain the win.

Junior Jamir Watkins topped Florida State with 18 points, while Primo Spears scored 16 and Baba Miller totaled 12. Watkins has now score in double figures in a career-best 13 consecutive games. Watkins also led the Seminoles with eight rebounds.

Led by 10 second-half points from Watkins, seven by Miller and six by Spears, the Seminoles chipped away at their deficit and were within five with five minutes remaining to be played. Two free throws from Watkins narrowed the Clemson lead to 60-55. The Tigers, though, closed the game on a 14-8 burst to gain the win. 

Spears led the Seminoles with 10 points in 11 first half minutes of playing time.  He played well as the Seminoles' leading scorer off of the bench for the game with his 16 points, Spears totaled three steals and one assist and finished tied with Watkins for the team lead with six field goals made. 

With 18 points and eight rebounds, Watkins was two rebounds shy of his second consecutive double-double.  He totaled 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Seminoles' victory over Boston College on Tuesday in Tallahassee. 

Florida State held Clemson's PJ Hall to a season-low seven points – the first game he did not score in double figures this season.  The Seminoles also held Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin to three points on one of six shooting from the field. Combined, Hall and Schieffelin totaled 10 points on four of 10 shooting from the field, zero 3-point shots made, and a combined two free throws made. 

The Seminoles' defense, which earned 11 steals and limited Clemson to 44 percent shooting from the field.  With Spears leading the team in with three steals, both Miller (two) and Darin Green Jr. (two) earned multiple steals.  Watkins and freshman Taylor Bol Bowen totaled one blocked shot each. 

The Seminoles will head back to Tallahassee to face the Wolfpack of North Carolina State on Tuesday, February 27 at 9 p.m. in the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.

 
Behind the Mic | FSU Women's Basketball with Jack Kavovit | Alabama
Wednesday, October 15
Behind the Mic | FSU Men's Basketball with Jeff Culhane | Alabama
Wednesday, October 15
FSU Student Athlete Spotlight | Myles Bailey
Wednesday, October 15
DL Mandrell Desir: “I have faith in us”
Wednesday, October 15