Field Level Media
Feb 29, 2020
Al-Amir Dawes scored 18 points, including a layup with one second remaining, to propel Clemson to a 70-69 Atlantic Coast Conference victory against No. 6 Florida State on Saturday afternoon at Clemson's Littlejohn Coliseum.
The victory was Clemson's third against a top 6 opponent this season -- the first time the Tigers have done that in 40 years.
Clemson also kept its flickering postseason hopes alive, improving to 15-13 overall and 9-9 in the ACC.
Florida State (24-5, 14-4), which had won 14 of its previous 18 games against Clemson, had a four-game winning streak snapped. The Seminoles, who entered the game atop the league standings, are attempting to win the program's first ACC regular-season title since joining the league in 1991.
Florida State has two regular-season games remaining -- at Notre Dame on Wednesday and a home finale against Boston College on Saturday.
Dawes, a freshman guard, made 8 of 18 shots from the floor and has averaged 15 points during the Tigers' last five games. Sophomore guard John Newman also scored 18 points for the Tigers.
Devin Vassell led Florida State with 14 points, while Trent Forrest and Malik Osborne each had 11.
Clemson, which lost by 18 points at Florida State on Dec. 8, trailed 39-32 at halftime, but opened the second half by outscoring the Seminoles 17-8, taking a 49-47 lead on a 3-pointer by Dawes with 13:02 remaining.
Florida State battled back to regain the lead 59-56 with 4:33 left, but Clemson closed the game by making seven consecutive field goals, with the last being Dawes' court-length drive and layup with one second remaining.
--Field Level Media