Men's Basketball Associated Press

McCray Leads Surging Florida State Past Cal Setting Up ACC Quarterfinal Matchup with Duke

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Robert McCray V scored 30 points and Florida State continued its winning ways, beating California 95-89 in the second round of the 2026 T. Rowe Price ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday. 

The eighth-seeded Seminoles (18-14) advanced to play top-seeded Duke on Thursday in the quarterfinals. 

McCray finished shooting 10-of-17 — including a thunderous windmill dunk off a steal. Lajae Jones scored 15 points, Chauncey Wiggins added 14 and reserve Kobe MaGee scored all of his 13 in the first half. 

Dai Dai Ames scored 27 points, Chris Bell 17, Justin Pippen 15 and John Camden 11, while Lee Dort grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds for ninth-seeded Cal (21-11). 

Cal darted to a 9-2 lead before the Seminoles took control. Florida State went on a 13-4 run and took the lead for good on a MaGee 3-pointer with 12:13 before halftime. 

Florida State shot 53 percent (18-of-34), including 7-of-14 — after missing its first five — from 3-point range in the first half. Cal shot 41 percent (11-of-27) including a paltry 27 percent (3-of-11) from past the arc in the first half. 

The Seminoles led 46-32 at halftime and stretched their lead to 56-39 with 16:31 left. 

Florida State has won 11 of its last 14 against conference foes since dropping its first five to start ACC play. 

Of Note 

  • Florida State improved to 22-32 all-time in the ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament and 8-9 in tournament games played in Charlotte. California falls to 2-2 in its ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament history.  

  • Florida State made 13 3-pointers on Wednesday evening, which is tied for the second-most in an ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament second-round game with 2025 North Carolina and NC State, which did it in the opening game of the day. 

  • Florida State’s Robert McCray V scored 30 points in the win, becoming just the seventh player in ACC Tournament history to score 30 or more points in a second-round game.   

  • McCray also tallied a game-high eight assists, while teammate Martin Somerville dished out seven helpers.  

  • California’s Lee Dort pulled down 18 rebounds in the contest, which is the second-most in a second-round game in ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament history.  

  • After trailing by 14 points at halftime, Cal outscored the Seminoles by eight in the second half.  

  • Florida State’s lead grew to as many as 22 points in the second half.