FSU Basketball suffers first loss of season, defeated by Oklahoma State

FSU basketball found themselves in their first serious battle of the season, blowing a second half lead in their loss to the Cowboys.

Entering Saturday’s contest in South Florida, the FSU basketball team found themselves on the brink of tying program history – as a win over Oklahoma State would move the Seminoles to 10-0 for just the second time ever.

The Noles will have to settle for being tied for the second best start in program history after they were upset by Oklahoma State 71-70 in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic inside the BB&T Center in Sunrise.

The Seminoles were challenged in the first half like they haven’t been all season, as the Cowboys matched them basket for basket at many points and even took the lead on several occasions. FSU basketball regained the lead when Terance Mann hit a jumper with just under four minutes in the half.

Mann, Phil Cofer and Mfiondu Kabengele combined for all but two of Florida State’s 38 first half points – while sloppy play plagued the garnet and gold with 17 first half turnovers.

Oklahoma State would regain the lead after starting the second half on a 15-10 run as Jeffrey Carroll Jr. nailed back to back three point baskets.The Seminole would regain the lead moments later when CJ Walker nailed a three pointer.

The defense clamped down from that point, holding OSU to just one point over the next seven and a half minutes before the Cowboys scored five points straight to cut the Seminoles lead to two points, later taking the lead with three and a half minutes to go and again with just over two and a half to play.

FSU basketball tied the game at 67 with a minute and half to play and, after a Oklahoma State dunk, Cofer made one of two free throws to keep the Seminoles down by one. After a Mann putback gave the Noles the lead, the Cowboys’ Mitchell Solomon put back a teammate’s miss and gave OSU the lead again.

With five seconds left, CJ Walker drove the length of the court, but was called for an offensive foul and the undefeated season game to an end for the Seminoles. Cofer led FSU basketball in scoring with 22 points while Mann added 20 – but 22 turnovers proved costly.

Next: Noles a projected No. 6 seed in latest bracketology

Florida State will return to Tallahassee on Monday as they take on Charleston Southern, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the Tucker Center and broadcast nationwide on ESPNU.