TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a decisive disparity at the free-throw line, the Florida State Seminoles outlasted the Stanford Cardinal 88-80 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Saturday at Donald L. Tucker Center.

The Seminoles, who led for over 37 minutes, used a balanced scoring attack and relentless conversion of Stanford’s mistakes to secure the Atlantic Coast Conference victory before a crowd of 6,307. The game’s most critical sequence came late in the first half, where Florida State transformed a narrow lead into a cushion Stanford could never fully erase.

With just over three minutes remaining before halftime and clinging to a 33-32 lead, the Seminoles ignited an 8-0 run fueled entirely by Stanford turnovers. After Lajae Jones converted two free throws, Robert McCray V capitalized on a Martin Somerville steal with a driving layup. Following another Stanford giveaway, Thomas Bassong finished inside to push the lead to 41-33. The Cardinal, who committed 11 turnovers in the game, saw 18 Florida State points result directly from those miscues, a pivotal margin in the final tally.

Stanford, which fell to 14-8 overall, fought back consistently behind the scoring of guard Ebuka Okorie. The junior from Nashua, New Hampshire, poured in a game-high 26 points, adding four assists in 36 minutes. He keyed a second-half push that saw the Cardinal trim a 10-point deficit to just three on multiple occasions, the last at 81-78 after a Donavin Young three-pointer with 4:27 to play.

Each time, however, Florida State answered at the free-throw line. The Seminoles attempted 29 free throws, making 23, while Stanford went to the line only nine times, converting six. That 17-point advantage from the stripe proved insurmountable for the Cardinal, who shot a respectable 46.3% from the field but were outdone by Florida State’s blistering 54.7% shooting.

The Seminoles, who improved to 10-12, were led by the backcourt duo of McCray and Chauncey Wiggins. McCray, a 6-foot-4 guard from Columbia, South Carolina, orchestrated the offense with 19 points and seven assists, continuing a strong stretch of recent performances. Wiggins, a 6-foot-10 forward from Atlanta, provided a versatile scoring punch with 23 points, including three three-pointers, and was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free-throw line.

Florida State’s frontcourt also made significant contributions. Lajae Jones of Neptune Beach, Florida, added 18 points, while Alex Steen of Panama City Beach, Florida, provided efficient interior play with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and three assists. Their work inside helped the Seminoles to a 38-30 advantage in points in the paint.

Stanford received supplementary scoring from Benny Gealer, who hit four three-pointers for 12 points, and AJ Rohosy, who added 11 points off the bench. The Cardinal’s effort on the offensive glass, where they grabbed 12 rebounds leading to 18 second-chance points, kept them within striking distance throughout the second half.

Defensively, Stanford’s Oskar Giltay, a 6-foot-10 sophomore from Bilzen, Belgium, was a rim-protecting presence with three blocks. But Florida State’s offensive execution, posting an offensive rating of 126.1 points per 100 possessions compared to Stanford’s 113.8, ultimately carried the day.

The Seminoles seized control early, using an 11-2 run midway through the first half to turn a 9-9 tie into a 20-11 lead. Stanford responded with a flurry of three-pointers, but could never draw even after the Seminoles’ decisive late-half run.

Florida State next travels to face Notre Dame on Feb. 7. Stanford returns home to host Clemson on Feb. 4, looking to snap a two-game skid.