SMU travels to Florida State in a crucial ACC matchup as Kevin Miller and Jaron Pierre Jr. lead the Mustangs in a high-scoring showdown.
SMU basketball heads to Tallahassee Saturday afternoon for a pivotal ACC matchup against Florida State, and the Mustangs know every possession could matter as the regular season winds down.
The SMU Mustangs are trying to regain momentum after a tough loss to Miami, but they still carry one of the most explosive offenses in the conference into their meeting with the Florida State Seminoles.
SMU enters the game averaging 85.2 points per contest, one of the best marks in the ACC. That offensive production is fueled by crisp ball movement as the Mustangs lead the conference in assists with 17.3 per game.
At the center of that attack is Kevin Miller, who has been one of the ACC’s most dynamic guards all season. Miller averages 18.9 points and 6.7 assists per game, while also contributing defensively with 1.6 steals per contest.
The Mustangs also rely heavily on the scoring punch of Jaron Pierre Jr., who has been on a heater recently. Pierre is averaging 18.7 points over his last 10 games, including a 27-point performance in SMU’s most recent outing.
The good news for SMU? They’ve already proven they can beat Florida State.
Back in January, the Mustangs edged the Seminoles 83-80, with Pierre pouring in 28 points to help seal the victory.
Still, winning in Tallahassee will be a much different challenge.
Florida State has played well on its home floor this season, posting a 10-6 record in home games, and the Seminoles have been especially dangerous in close contests with a 4-4 record in games decided by three points or fewer.
Guard Robert McCray leads the Seminoles offense, averaging 15.6 points and 5.9 assists, while Chauncey Wiggins has provided steady scoring with 14.6 points per game over the last 10 contests.
SMU will likely be without one of its most important players when the Mustangs face Florida State on Saturday, as sources indicate guard B.J. Edwards is not expected to play while continuing to recover from an ankle injury suffered in the Feb. 25 game against Cal.
Since Edwards went down, SMU has dropped three consecutive games, highlighting how valuable he is to the lineup.
The versatile guard averages 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, impacting both ends of the floor.
Momentum favors Florida State entering the matchup, as the Seminoles have gone 8-2 over their last 10 games.
But if SMU’s offense continues to hum - and Miller and Pierre stay aggressive - the Mustangs have the firepower to steal another critical ACC road win.
WHAT: SMU Mustangs (19-11, 8-9 ACC) at Florida State Seminoles (16-14, 9-8 ACC)
WHEN: Saturday, March 7, 2026 | 1 p.m. CT
WHERE: Tucker Center | Tallahassee, FL
TV: ACC NETWORK
RADIO: SMU App / SiriusXM
BETTING ODDS via DraftKings
SPREAD: SMU +1.5
TOTAL: 158.5
MONEYLINE: SMU +110 | FSU OFF