TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a high-octane Atlantic Coast Conference shootout where neither team led by more than six points, Duke used a near-perfect performance from the free-throw line and a career-high 28 points from sophomore Isaiah Evans to outlast Florida State 91-87 on Saturday at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

The game, played before a crowd of 6,097, was a stark contrast to pregame expectations. Despite Duke entering as a heavy favorite with a projected 96% win probability and a 16.5-point spread, the Seminoles, fueled by a raucous home environment and sharp three-point shooting, pushed the Blue Devils to the absolute limit.

The contest’s defining characteristic was its relentless pace and offensive efficiency. Both teams shot better than 53% from the field and 40% from three-point range. The difference, in a game separated by just four points, came at the charity stripe. Duke was clinical, making 23 of 25 free throws. Florida State, meanwhile, went 11 for 16, a discrepancy of 12 points in a four-point game.

The most critical sequence unfolded in the final 30 seconds. With Duke clinging to an 85-82 lead after a Robert McCray V three-pointer, Florida State was forced to foul. Isaiah Evans, a 6-foot-6 guard from Fayetteville, North Carolina, calmly sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to push the lead to five. After a chaotic Florida State possession, the Seminoles fouled Caleb Foster, who also made both attempts with four seconds remaining to seal the victory, rendering McCray’s last-second dunk inconsequential.

Evans was the offensive catalyst for Duke, hitting 6 of 13 from beyond the arc. His backcourt mate, Cameron Boozer, the team’s top star, delivered a versatile performance with 17 points and a game-high nine assists, consistently breaking down the Florida State defense. Patrick Ngongba provided a vital interior presence with 10 points and three blocks.

Florida State was led by a spectacular effort from sophomore guard Robert McCray V, who scored 22 of his team-high 22 points in the second half, willing the Seminoles back from multiple small deficits. Chauncey Wiggins matched him with 22 points, and Kobe MaGee added 17. The Seminoles connected on 14 three-pointers and scored 17 points off 15 Duke turnovers, but could not overcome the Blue Devils’ precision at the line.

The first half set the tone for the nail-biter, ending in a 42-42 deadlock after eight lead changes. Both teams traded blows throughout the second period, with neither able to mount a sustained run. Duke’s largest lead was six points at 78-72 with just over two minutes to play, but Florida State answered with a 7-0 spurt, capped by McCray’s three, to take a brief 79-78 lead—their first since the 17:34 mark of the first half.

The Blue Devils immediately responded. On the ensuing possession, Cameron Boozer found Evans for a clutch three-pointer, putting Duke back ahead for good at 81-79 with 2:10 remaining. From there, Duke’s poise and free-throw shooting closed the door.

With the win, Duke improves to 13-1 overall and 1-0 in ACC play. The Blue Devils, who narrowly avoided a second loss after a one-point defeat to Texas Tech in December, continue their conference schedule on the road at Louisville on Tuesday.

Florida State falls to 7-8 overall and 0-2 in the ACC. Despite the loss, the Seminoles demonstrated significant fight against a top-tier opponent after a challenging non-conference slate. They host North Carolina State next Saturday.