RECAP: Florida State’s Comeback Effort Against Lipscomb Falls Short, Loses 78-75
The Seminoles will enter 2024 with a .500 record.
In this story:
Florida State Seminoles
FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES
I’m not sure Florida State ever wanted to be playing in this game early on. Lipscomb led for the majority of the game, starting with a layup at the 12:04 mark in the first half, and eventually led by as much as 21 at a few different points in the second half. This team looked dead, with no interest in showing some pride.
However, Florida State started to slowly chip away at the lead, stringing together stops and scores as they attempted a massive comeback. An 18-3 run starting with a little under 10 minutes remaining got the lead down to as little as 3 with 2:06 remaining. Both teams traded baskets again, and it was still a 3-point game, Lipscomb ball leading 78-75, with 37.4 seconds remaining.
Florida State lost this game because they weren’t interested in defending Lipscomb in the first half. The Bisons shot 60% from the floor on their way to 46 first-half points. They were quite literally getting whatever they wanted: back cuts, open 3s, layups… whatever they wanted, they got. FSU ramped up the defense a little too late, as they held Lipscomb to 34.5% from the floor, but they still shot 11/23 (47.8%) from 3 for the game.
FSU just couldn’t get the steals and turnovers they’re used to forcing, with just 11 forced turnovers and 6 steals, both well below their average.
The sad realization is Florida State very well could’ve won. Darin Green Jr had two three-pointers in the first half that went in, but one was released after the shot clock expired, and the other was released as the first half expired. If FSU was 0.6 seconds faster in the first half, they would’ve won. Green Jr finished with 12 points on 4/13 shooting from the floor.
Jamir Watkins led the ‘Noles in scoring with 19 points on the back of his 12/13 performance from the FT line. He’d chip in 6 rebounds and 2 blocks, and had far and away the highest +/- at +11. No one else who played for FSU was better than +6.
Primo Spears finally showed some efficiency, scoring 16 points on 7/14 shooting from the floor, adding in 3 assists and 3 steals.
Only 5 other Seminoles scored (Jalen Warley, De’Ante Green, Baba Miller, Chandler Jackson, Cam Corhen) all falling between 4 and 8 points. It was good to see Corhen back on the floor, and he made a solid impact. As a team, FSU shot just 4/18 from 3, which is a brutal showing overall.
Will Pruitt led all scorers with 24 points, torching FSU for 16 points in the first half. Owen McCormack had 13 points and AJ McGinnis had 12 (4/8 from 3).
FSU will kick off ACC play with a winnable stretch of games, starting with Georgia Tech, on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm.
