FSU basketball: Noles overcome slow start to beat Gardner Webb

FSU basketball starts a new winning streak in the Tucker Center.

No. 21 FSU basketball (5-1, 1-0 ACC) got back on the winning side of things Monday night with a 72-59 win over Gardner Webb.

The Noles came into the game as 20 point favorites and led by just three points at halftime. FSU shot under 30 percent in the first half and took 19 three-point shots.

They had several shots to rim out, but ultimately they settled for too many jump shots against a smaller team. The Noles had 54 percent of their shots come from beyond the arc and only made six of 33 three-point attempts.

However, they did a good job of getting to the free-throw line, going 24 of 32, which was a big key to winning the game after shooting so poorly from the floor.

They also crushed the Bulldogs on the boards and had 18 offensive rebounds to only two for Gardner Webb. One area the Noles need to clean up is the turnovers, as they had 16 in the game.

FSU basketball was led by Anthony Polite, who had a career-high 15 points with nine rebounds. Freshman phenom Scottie Barnes had a quiet night with six points but did dish out five assists. He did have a scare in the game where it looked like he injured his ankle, so that’ll be something to keep an eye on in the coming days.

Gardner Webb shot 31 percent from the floor but did make nine three-pointers and 14 of 18 free throws. They are a pesky team, but the game was closer than it needed because FSU basketball seems to be playing to their level of competition. I think their shot selection overall wasn’t good, as there’s no reason to jack up so many three-pointers against a team that lacks size.

A win is a win, but this FSU team still has a ways to go to figure it all out, and that’s what these early season games are used for by Leonard Hamilton.

The Noles will be off until December 29, when they travel to take on Clemson in ACC play.