ACC Basketball -Wake Forest 69, Florida State 68 — Game recap Jan. 17, 2026

The takeaway: In a thrilling ACC road win, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons stormed back in the second half and hit a buzzer-beating jumper to edge the Florida State Seminoles, 69–68. After trailing by double digits late in the second half, Wake Forest’s resilience and late-game execution triggered an 11-4 run and set up Nate Calmese’s game-winning floater with 6.8 seconds remaining — delivering Wake Forest’s first conference road victory of the season. (Wake Forest University Athletics)

Score & line

• Final: Wake Forest 69, Florida State 68. (Halftime: FSU 34, WF 31). (CBS Sports)
• Records after the game: Wake Forest 11-7 (2-3 ACC); Florida State 7-11 (0-5 ACC). (CBS Sports)

Key stats

• Wake Forest: 26-63 FG (41%), 8-34 3PT (24%), 9-12 FT (75%), 10 turnovers vs. 5 assists, grabbing timely boards and forcing late defensive stops. (ESPN.com)
• Florida State: 25-57 FG (44%), 11-25 3PT (44%), 7-10 FT (70%), 16 turnovers — including a critical late miscue by Robert McCray V. (Wake Forest University Athletics)

Top performers:

• Nate Calmese (WF): 18 points, including the go-ahead jumper with 6.8 seconds left that clinched the victory. (CBS Sports)
• Juke Harris (WF): 15 points and floor leadership throughout the comeback. (CBS Sports)
• Myles Colvin (WF): 15 points and key rebounding in the second half. (CBS Sports)
• Chauncey Wiggins (FSU): Led the Seminoles with 15 points and aggressive interior play. (Florida State University)
• Robert McCray V (FSU): Added 12 points and 5 assists but committed 11 turnovers, a stat that loomed large late. (CBS Sports)
• Thomas Bassong (FSU): Contributed 11 points and 5 rebounds in the Seminoles’ effort. (Florida State University)

Game flow — the moments that mattered

• Tight first half: Florida State jumped out to an early edge establishing a 34–31 halftime lead thanks to efficient shooting and physical defense, keeping Wake Forest’s offense in check through the first 20 minutes. (CBS Sports)
• FSU builds separation: Midway through the second half, Florida State extended its edge to as many as 11 points, pressuring Wake Forest to find answers on both ends. The Seminoles’ execution in transition and ball movement had Wake hanging on. (CBS Sports)
• The comeback begins: Facing a 65–54 deficit with about 4:26 left, Wake Forest dialed up defensive intensity. Forced turnovers and sharp drives sparked an 11–4 run, cushioning the Deacons back within striking distance. (CBS Sports)
• Calmese takes over: After Cooper Schwieger’s rebound and tip-in pulled Wake within one with under 30 seconds to play, Nate Calmese delivered the decisive jumper with 6.8 seconds remaining, a clutch play that sent the Demon Deacons bench and traveling fans into celebration. (CBS Sports)
• Final possession drama: Florida State’s last-second attempt rimmed out, sealing the narrow Wake Forest victory and denying FSU its first ACC win of the season. (CBS Sports)

Player & coaching notes

• Wake Forest resilience: After struggling earlier in ACC play, the Deacons showed poise under pressure, using smart ball movement and opportunistic defense to overcome turnovers and a late deficit. (CBS Sports)
• Calmese’s leadership: The senior guard’s 18 points and ability to take over in the clutch reflect his growing role as a go-to scorer in tight ACC matchups. (CBS Sports)
• FSU’s missed opportunity: Florida State battled through adversity all night — including forcing numerous Wake turnovers — but costly mistakes down the stretch, particularly turnovers, undermined the Seminoles’ bid for an upset. (Wake Forest University Athletics)

Why Wake Forest won

• Clutch shooting in crunch time: Wake hit key shots in the final 3 minutes, including the winning jumper, while FSU’s offense stalled under pressure. (CBS Sports)
• Turnover advantage late: After Florida State’s early ball security, Wake Forest’s defense forced critical turnovers that turned into transition buckets. (CBS Sports)
• Balanced scoring: Three Deacons in double figures ensured that Florida State couldn’t focus its defense on just one scorer. (CBS Sports)

Quick look ahead

Wake Forest will look to build momentum from this dramatic win as they return home for their next ACC contest, while Florida State seeks its first conference victory on the road.