by By Kennedy Knisley, FSU Communications
CLEMSON, S.C. (seminoles.com) – Caleb Mills scored a game-high 16 points and RayQuan Evans (Crow Tribe) had 11 points as the Seminoles fell to Clemson at the Littlejohn Coliseum, 75-69. Mills totaled 16 points, three steals and two assists while Evans two steals for the Seminoles, who are now 3-3 on the road in ACC play.
Florida State pulled even twice in the game, but was unable to grab a lead. The Seminoles are now 13-8 and the Tigers are 11-9.
Florida State closed an eight-point deficit in the first half to tie Clemson 30-30 with 4:15 remaining in the half. Clemson closed out the half on a 15-6 run to take a 45-36 lead into the locker room at halftime. The Tigers made 17 of 28 field goal attempts (.607 percent) in the first half. The Seminoles outscored the Tigers in the second half (33-30) as they held the home team to .417 percent shooting from the field (10 of 24).
Florida State steadily worked its way back into the game in the second half and cut its deficit to two, at 69-67 on three straight point by Mills. Clemson made seven of its final eight free throws in the final 1:58 to seal the victory.
Redshirt senior Anthony Polite contributed a team-high five rebounds and scored five points for the Seminoles. He shot a perfect two of two from the line and is shooting .857 from the free throw line (24 of 28) in the last nine games. Polite had a single three-pointer and a single steal and is the 12th player in school history with at least 100 steals and at least 100 3-point shots made.
With nine steals against Clemson, the Seminoles remain the leaders in the ACC with 193 total steals and a 9.2 steals per game average. Mills contributed a team-high three steals, and Evans had two for the Seminoles.
