Florida State Defeats Syracuse in ACC Opener

Florida State men's basketball secured its first win of 2025 with a 90-74 victory over Syracuse, marking their first ACC win of the season. The game was closely contested, featuring 12 lead changes in the first half, but FSU pulled away in the second half with strong performances from Daquan Davis and Taylor Bol Bowen. Davis led the Seminoles with 18 points, while Bol Bowen achieved a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Syracuse, despite a strong showing from Chris Bell and the return of JJ Starling, continues to struggle, now holding a record of 6-8 and seeking its first ACC victory. FSU's defense played a crucial role, forcing turnovers and capitalizing on free throws, hitting 23 of 31 attempts. The victory comes amidst off-court challenges for FSU, including a lawsuit against head coach Leonard Hamilton by former players regarding NIL payments.