Nate Calmese's winning jumper completes Wake Forest comeback over FSU

Field Level Media|published: Sat 17th January, 20:47 2026

Jan 17, 2026; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Mekhi Mason (8) looks to pass the ball against Florida State Seminoles guard Cam Miles (2) during the first half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Nate Calmese's running jumper with 6.8 seconds left lifted Wake Forest to a 69-68 comeback win over Florida State on Saturday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

Calmese finished with a game-high 18 points to lead the Demon Deacons (11-7, 2-3 ACC) and snap a two-game losing skid.

Calmese drove into the paint, stopped and with his left hand looped a high-arching shot that found the mark.

Florida State advanced the ball to midcourt and called a timeout with 4.6 seconds left. On the ensuing play, Martin Somerville took the inbound pass at the top of the key and drove into the paint. Somerville appeared to momentarily lose his dribble, recover and put up a shot that bounced off the rim as time expired.

The Seminoles (7-11, 0-5) lost their fifth in a row and 10th in their past 12 games as they remain winless in conference play under first-year coach Luke Loucks.

With 4:26 left, Florida State led 64-55. But Calmese keyed a run of six consecutive points, which cut the Seminoles lead to three with 2:47 left.

It became a free throw battle down the stretch with both teams in the bonus. Calmese missed the front end of a 1 and 1, but Wake Forest's Tre'Von Spillers collected the rebound. Cooper Schwieger tipped in a missed 3 by Calmese to cut Florida State's lead to 68-67 with 24.1 seconds left.

With the Demon Deacons applying full-court pressure, Robert McCray V committed his 11th turnover of the game when he overthrew a pass down court, giving Wake the ball with 18.1 left.

Wake Forest finished 9 of 12 from the free throw line while Florida State made 17 of 19 from the foul line.

Wiggins led the Seminoles with 15 points while McCray V had 12 points, six rebounds and five assists. Thomas Bassong also had 11 points and five rebounds.

Myles Colvin and Juke Harris each had 15 points for the Demon Deacons. Harris led Wake on the boards with nine rebounds. The Demon Deacons also took advantage of 16 Florida State turnovers while committing only five themselves against the team, which entered the game averaging the most turnovers forced in the ACC.

--Field Level Media

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