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FSU Basketball Recap: Noles Get Two More Wins Despite Sluggish Play

By Frank Urbina

Dec 19, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Phil Cofer (0) moves past Samford Bulldogs forward Terry Brutus (25) during the second half of the game at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles forward Phil Cofer (0) moves past Samford Bulldogs forward Terry Brutus (25) during the second half of the game at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 17, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Manhattan Jaspers forward Calvin Crawford (14) fouls Florida State Seminoles center Michael Ojo (50) during the first half at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Sunrise, FL, USA; Manhattan Jaspers forward Calvin Crawford (14) fouls Florida State Seminoles center Michael Ojo (50) during the first half at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida State Seminoles 83 – Manhattan Jaspers 67

We mentioned in the preview that the Jaspers are led by explosive guard Zavier Turner. He averages 17 points per game this year, and is a handful to defend. So did the Seminoles do a good job slowing him down? Of course not.

By halftime, Turner led all scorers with 15 points, and the Seminoles’ lead was a precarious 46-41 advantage. FSU’s defense tightened up in the second half however, holding the Jaspers to 26 points. Turner himself scored just three over the final 20 minuts. For the game, Manhattan shot 40 percent and turned the ball over 18 times.

Dwayne Bacon was FSU’s leading scorer with 16 points, eight of which came from the free-throw line. Xavier Rathan-Mayes also had a nice game, scoring 10 points, to go with four rebounds and five assists.

Dec 19, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) reacts after dunking the ball during the second half of the game against the Samford Bulldogs at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 19, 2016; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) reacts after dunking the ball during the second half of the game against the Samford Bulldogs at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports /

Florida State Seminoles 76 – Samford Bulldogs 68

Once again, the Seminoles got off to a slow start, this time against the Bulldogs. Just to keep things interesting though, it was the offense that decided to sputter early. Samford deserves some credit. Their zone defense kept Florida State off kilter for the first twenty minutes.

At halftime, the score was 31-27 FSU, and only because Mayes had a three-pointer go in that bounced off the cylinder twice before dropping in as time expired.

The second half was much of the same. But thanks to the Seminoles pushing the pace a little more, the lead was stretched to double digits before garbage time.

Sophomore Terrance Mann had a career-high in points, scoring 19 on an extremely efficient eight shot attempts. Rathan-Mayes also had another nice outing, totaling 15 points, three three-pointers, four rebounds and five assists.

If Florida State seemed disinterested against Manhattan, I’m not even sure what to call their effort against Samford. But I though Ira Schoffel of Warchant gave a perfectly reasonable take on the matter:

Sure, that may seem like a weak excuse. What’s not though is that FSU is now 12-1, and in great shape heading into conference play.

The non-conference portion of the schedule is (mercifully) over. Going forward, we have to root for Illinois — now 11-1 on the year — to keep winning. And also for… the Gators (stop shaking your heads at me) to finish conference play with a top-10 RPI — they’re currently fourth.

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