Florida State Edges California in High-Scoring Thriller
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 7:00 PM ET · Spectrum Center
Florida State Seminoles 95, California Golden Bears 89, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won California Golden Bears vs Florida State Seminoles?
Florida State Seminoles beat California Golden Bears 95-89 at Spectrum Center on March 11, 2026.
Who was favored in California Golden Bears vs Florida State Seminoles?
Florida State Seminoles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -135 (about 57% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling encounter, the Florida State Seminoles triumphed over the California Golden Bears with a final score of 95-89. This game showcased the offensive prowess of both teams, making it a noteworthy fixture in the NCAAB landscape. The match took place at the Spectrum Center, adding to the excitement of the postseason atmosphere.
Florida State entered this matchup with a solid home record of 18-14 and had been performing well recently, boasting an 8-2 record over their last ten games, including a three-game winning streak. They averaged 78.9 points per game while allowing 73.2, indicating a high-scoring style of play. Their last five games had them averaging 77.8 points scored and 74.2 points allowed, showing a consistent offensive output.
On the other hand, California had a respectable away record of 21-11 but had struggled recently, going 6-4 in their last ten games and currently on a one-game losing streak. The Golden Bears averaged 76.7 points per game while allowing 78.1, which suggests they have faced challenges defensively. In their last five games, they scored an average of 70.0 points and allowed 70.4, indicating a dip in scoring efficiency.
In terms of home and away performance, Florida State had a home record of 3-2 in their last five games, while California's away record stood at 3-2, highlighting a competitive nature in both venues. The two teams had met previously twice in the current and last season, splitting the series with Florida State winning their latest encounter 63-61 on January 29, 2026, and California winning the earlier matchup 77-68 on January 23, 2025.
Injury reports did not specify any key players missing from either team, suggesting both squads were at full strength for this critical game. The betting market reflected Florida State as slight favorites with odds from DraftKings showing a spread of -1.5 in favor of the Seminoles, a total set at 154.5, with over odds at -108.0 and under odds at -112.0. Florida State's moneyline was listed at -135.0, while California's stood at 114.0.
The game conditions appeared favorable for both teams, with no adverse weather or venue issues reported, allowing for a high-paced and energetic matchup. As the game unfolded, fans witnessed a series of scoring plays that kept the excitement alive. Key moments included free throws by Lee Dort and Lajae Jones, alongside impressive three-pointers from Chris Bell and Dai Dai Ames, showcasing the shooting capabilities of both teams.
Ultimately, Florida State's ability to maintain a slight edge in scoring during critical moments allowed them to secure the victory, demonstrating their resilience and offensive firepower. This game not only highlighted the competitiveness of both teams but also set the stage for further developments in the postseason.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | FSU -1.5 | 154.5 o -108 / u -112 | California Golden Bears +114 · Florida State Seminoles -135 |
Leaders
- PointsRobert McCray V30Florida State Seminoles
- AssistsRobert McCray V8Florida State Seminoles
- ReboundsAlex Steen8Florida State Seminoles
- PointsDai Dai Ames27California Golden Bears
- AssistsJustin Pippen6California Golden Bears
- ReboundsLee Dort18California Golden Bears
Recent form
Florida State Seminoles
Last 10: 8-2Streak W378.9 scored · 73.2 allowed per game3-2 at home
- W91-78vs SMU MustangsMar 7
- W75-74at Pittsburgh PanthersMar 5
- W80-71at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsFeb 28
- L73-83vs Miami HurricanesFeb 25
- W70-65at Clemson TigersFeb 21
- W80-72vs Boston College EaglesFeb 17
- W92-69at Virginia Tech HokiesFeb 14
- L58-61vs Virginia CavaliersFeb 11
- W82-79at Notre Dame Fighting IrishFeb 7
- W88-80vs Stanford CardinalJan 31
California Golden Bears
Last 10: 6-4Streak L176.7 scored · 78.1 allowed per game3-2 away
- L73-80at Wake Forest Demon DeaconsMar 7
- W76-65at Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsMar 5
- L56-72vs Pittsburgh PanthersFeb 28
- W73-69vs SMU MustangsFeb 26
- W72-66vs Stanford CardinalFeb 21
- W86-75at Boston College EaglesFeb 14
- L100-107at Syracuse OrangeFeb 12
- L55-77vs Clemson TigersFeb 8
- W90-85vs Georgia Tech Yellow JacketsFeb 5
- W86-85at Miami HurricanesJan 31
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 35-3 | - | 17-1 |
| Virginia | 30-6 | 2 | 15-3 |
| Miami | 26-9 | 4 | 13-5 |
| North Carolina | 24-9 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Clemson | 24-11 | 5 | 12-6 |
| Louisville | 24-11 | 6 | 11-7 |
| NC State | 20-14 | 7 | 10-8 |
| Florida State | 18-15 | 7 | 10-8 |
| California | 22-12 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Stanford | 20-13 | 8 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 19-13 | 9 | 8-10 |
| SMU | 20-14 | 9 | 8-10 |
| Wake Forest | 18-17 | 10 | 7-11 |
| Syracuse | 15-17 | 11 | 6-12 |
| Pittsburgh | 13-20 | 12 | 5-13 |
| Notre Dame | 13-18 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Boston College | 11-20 | 13 | 4-14 |
| Georgia Tech | 11-20 | 15 | 2-16 |
Box score
| Stat | California Golden Bears | Florida State Seminoles |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-61 | 35-61 |
| Field goal % | 51 | 57 |
| Three-pointers | 11-27 | 13-28 |
| Three-point % | 41 | 46 |
| Free throws | 16-24 | 12-19 |
| Free throw % | 67 | 63 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 26 |
| Offensive rebounds | 15 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 20 |
| Assists | 11 | 19 |
| Steals | 3 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 9 | 20 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 8 |
| Points in the paint | 34 | 40 |
| Fouls | 17 | 19 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 22 |
| Lead changes | 1 | 1 |
| Time in front | 16 | 81 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half49-65Dai Dai Ames makes 25-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half49-66Chauncey Wiggins makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-68Chauncey Wiggins makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half50-68Dai Dai Ames makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half50-69Chauncey Wiggins makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half50-72Robert McCray V makes 28-foot three point jumper (Martin Somerville assists)
- 2nd Half51-72Justin Pippen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half52-72Justin Pippen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half54-72Justin Pippen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half55-72Justin Pippen makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half55-74Robert McCray V makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half57-74Sammie Yeanay makes driving layup
- 2nd Half57-76Robert McCray V makes 1-foot dunk
- 2nd Half57-79Robert McCray V makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half59-79Sammie Yeanay makes driving layup (John Camden assists)
- 2nd Half59-81Shah Muhammad makes 1-foot dunk (Robert McCray V assists)
- 2nd Half61-81Dai Dai Ames makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half62-81Dai Dai Ames makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-81Dai Dai Ames makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-81Chris Bell makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half65-84Chauncey Wiggins makes 27-foot three point jumper (Thomas Bassong assists)
- 2nd Half67-84Lee Dort makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half67-86Shah Muhammad makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Martin Somerville assists)
- 2nd Half67-88Thomas Bassong makes 2-foot dunk (Lajae Jones assists)
- 2nd Half70-88John Camden makes 23-foot three pointer (Justin Pippen assists)
- 2nd Half73-88Chris Bell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Justin Pippen assists)
- 2nd Half73-89Robert McCray V makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-90Robert McCray V makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-90Justin Pippen makes driving layup
- 2nd Half77-90Chris Bell makes 13-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half79-90Dai Dai Ames makes driving layup
- 2nd Half79-91Robert McCray V makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-91Lee Dort makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half80-92Lajae Jones makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-92Chris Bell makes 25-foot three point jumper (Justin Pippen assists)
- 2nd Half83-93Robert McCray V makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half83-94Robert McCray V makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-94John Camden makes 24-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half86-95Robert McCray V makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half89-95Dai Dai Ames makes 26-foot three point jumper
Win probability
Above the line favours Florida State Seminoles, below favours California Golden Bears.
Venue
- Spectrum CenterCharlotte, NC
- OfficialsBill Covington Jr., A.J. Desai, Tony Henderson
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Picks for NCAAB
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- Florida State Edges California in Close ContestJan 28, 2026