ABILENE, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive runs and a frantic final minute, SMU survived a furious second-half comeback by Florida State to escape with an 83-80 victory in a non-conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Moody Coliseum.

The Mustangs, leveraging a dominant first-half shooting performance, built a 12-point halftime lead only to see the Seminoles claw all the way back to take a brief lead late. The contest was ultimately decided in the final 16 seconds with clutch free throws and a critical defensive stop.

SMU guard Jaron Pierre led all scorers with 28 points, including several crucial baskets to stem Florida State rallies. His backcourt mate, BJ Edwards, was the engine for the Mustangs, finishing with 19 points, nine rebounds and five assists, continuing his strong recent play. For Florida State, forward Lajae Jones posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while guard Robert McCray V orchestrated the comeback with 21 points and nine assists.

The first half belonged to SMU’s offensive efficiency. The Mustangs shot 50% from the field and connected on 7 of 15 three-point attempts before the break, building a 46-34 lead. Edwards was central to the early success, scoring 13 first-half points. Florida State struggled to find a consistent rhythm, hampered by SMU’s defensive length inside, anchored by 7-foot-2 center Samet Yigitoglu, who grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked a shot.

The narrative flipped dramatically after halftime. The Seminoles emerged with renewed defensive intensity, speeding up the Mustangs and capitalizing on turnovers. A 15-4 run to open the second half, fueled by McCray’s penetration and playmaking, quickly cut the deficit to a single possession. Florida State’s work on the offensive glass, where they secured 15 rebounds for the game, generated critical second-chance opportunities.

The game seesawed for the next ten minutes before Florida State finally broke through. A three-pointer from Martin Somerville, who scored 13 points, gave the Seminoles their first lead since the opening minutes at 67-66 with just under seven minutes to play. The teams traded blows, with Pierre answering for SMU to reclaim a slim advantage.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With SMU clinging to a 79-78 lead, Edwards was fouled and made both free throws with 8.1 seconds remaining to push the lead to three. Florida State inbounded and got the ball to McCray, who drove and was fouled on a layup attempt with 5.5 seconds left. He made the first free throw to cut the lead to 81-80 but missed the second. SMU’s Corey Washington secured the vital defensive rebound and was immediately fouled.

Washington calmly sank both free throws with 4.2 seconds left to extend the lead back to three at 83-80. Florida State had one final chance, but a desperate, contested three-point attempt from AJ Swinton was off the mark as time expired, sealing the Mustangs’ victory.

While SMU won, the statistical sheet highlighted Florida State’s gritty effort. The Seminoles outscored SMU 38-28 in the paint, 11-4 on fast breaks, and scored 11 points off turnovers. However, SMU’s advantage at the free-throw line proved decisive; the Mustangs made 17 of 23 attempts compared to Florida State’s 10 of 15.

The loss dropped Florida State to 8-12 on the season, while SMU improved to 15-5. The game was part of the ACC’s ongoing scheduling alliance, bringing a conference opponent to Abilene. An announced crowd of 5,974 witnessed the tense finish.

SMU will look to carry the momentum into its next contest on the road at Louisville. Florida State returns home to face California, seeking to build on the positives from a narrow defeat where they overcame a large deficit against a favored opponent on the road.