Seminoles start off new year right with 90-74 win over Syracuse on Saturday
It was the perfect start to the new year for the Florida State men on Saturday evening.
After a two-week break, the Seminoles used a pivotal run midway through the second half to run away from Syracuse down the stretch in a 90-74 win at the Tucker Center.
It was the first ACC win of the season for the Seminoles, who are now 10-4 overall and 1-2 in the league.
Syracuse falls to 6-8 and 0-3.
Leading by just four with 12 minutes left, the FSU bench sparked a 13-4 run that took control of the game. Jerry Deng and Bostyn Holt both hit shots during the stretch and when backup center Alier Maluk hit a short turnaround jumper, the Seminoles had a 70-57 lead with 7:32 left.
The defense and the free-throw shooting were more than good enough to keep the lead the rest of the way as the Seminoles started January with a much-needed conference victory.
Freshman guard DaQuan Davis led a balanced scoring attack with 18 points (10 of 10 from the free-throw line), senior star Jamir Watkins added 16 despite just going 3 of 10 from the floor, Malique Ewin added 14 points and Taylor Bol Bowen finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Seminoles scored 54 points in the second half.
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Before that deciding run midway through the second half, the game was a back-and-forth affair. Every time the Seminoles made a run Syracuse countered. Florida State led 36-34 at the half but was able to finally find some separation in the second.
The Seminoles shot 54 percent from the floor overall and were 7 of 18 from 3-point range. Syracuse was 10 of 25 from beyond the arc but shot just 44 percent overall. Florida State also forced 15 turnovers, had a 13-0 advantage in fastbreak points and a 40-26 advantage on points in the paint.
Syracuse was led in scoring by Chris Bell’s 16 points.
Florida State returns to action Wednesday at rival Miami.
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