Watkins scores career-high 27, Florida St. beats Syracuse to hand the Orange their first home loss

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- — Jamir Watkins scored a career-high 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Florida State pulled away midway through the second half and beat Syracuse 85-69 on Tuesday night.

It was Syracuse's first home loss of the season.

Syracuse built a one-point halftime advantage and had a seven-point lead with 15:57 to play. De’Ante Green's three-point play sparked a 9-2 surge to tie it at 48-all with about 14 minutes left. The Orange then were up 52-48 before a Primo Spears 3-pointer sparked a 24-10 run, and the Seminoles had a 72-62 lead with 5:29 left and cruised from there. Watkins made a pair of dunks and scored 10 points during the stretch.

Watkins scored 15 second-half points and finished 8 of 15 from the floor and 9-of-12 shooting from free-throw line. Baba Miller added 12 points and Spears chipped in 13 points and six assists for Florida State (12-7, 6-2 ACC), which has won eight of its last 10 games.

Syracuse, which entered 9-0 at home, was 1 for 14 from 3-point range, shot 23 of 52 (44%) overall and committed 16 turnovers.

Judah Mintz scored 16 of his 28 points in the second half to lead Syracuse (13-6, 4-4). JJ Starling added 10 points. Maliq Brown grabbed 12 rebounds to go with eight points.

Mintz scored 12 points and Starling added eight to help Syracuse take a 36-35 lead into the break. Watkins had 12 points and six rebounds in the first half for Florida State.

Syracuse hosts North Carolina State on Saturday. Florida State returns home to face No. 3 North Carolina on Saturday.

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