Evans helps FSU end its 6-game losing streak
RayQuan Evans scored 17 of his career-high 28 points in the second half, including the go-ahead 3-point play with 14 seconds left, and Florida State beat Clemson 81-80 on Tuesday night to snap a six-game losing streak and keep hopes of an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament alive.
Evans shot 7 of 13 from the field, 2 of 3 from the 3-point line and 12 of 13 from the free-throw line and scored Florida State’s last 7 points in the final 79 seconds. Evans was fouled by Nick Honor as he hit a jumper to tie it with 14 seconds left, and the free throw capped scoring.
Alex Hemingway missed a clean look at a potential game-winning corner 3 that bounced off the back of the iron as time expired. Clemson (12-14, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) has lost five games in a row since beating the Seminoles 75-69 on Feb. 2.
Cam’Ron Fletcher scored 12 of his 17 points in the second half and Matthew Cleveland added 13 points for Florida State (14-11, 7-8).
PJ Hall had a career-high 28 points for points for Clemson. Al-Amir Dawes scored 18 points and Hemenway added 12. Dawes, who went into the game 4-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc, hit a careerhigh four 3s on 11 attempts.
Dawes scored all of Clemson’s points in a 10-5 spurt that pulled the Tigers to a point down, but Fletcher hit a 3 and added 2 free throws before he converted a 3-point play in a 100-second span to give Florida State a 67-58 lead — the largest of the game by either team — with 8:34 remaining.
Hemenway answered with a dunk on the other end to spark a 20-7 run, the last 6 points scored by Hall to give the Tigers a 78-74 lead with 1:24 to play. Evans and Hall traded 2 free throws each before Evans scored 5 points in the final minute to cap the scoring.
Evans has scored the winning points in three games this season. The senior hit 2 free throws with 0.8 seconds left to lift the Seminoles to a 65-64 win over Miami on Jan. 11 and made a layup with 2 seconds left in regulation to make it 67-67 and force overtime before he hit two free throws with 12 seconds left in OT that gave FSU a 79-78 victory over then-No. 6 Duke on Jan. 18.
Clemson plays at Louisville on Saturday. Florida State hits the road to play Saturday at No. 3 Duke.