Florida State University Athletics
Sunday, November 24
Uncasville, Ct.
3:30 P.M.
Florida State
vs
University of Massachusetts
Ewin Enjoying Quite A Week Entering Sunday's 3:30 PM Game Against UMass
11/23/2024 8:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Florida State's Malique Ewin is enjoying quite a week.
The junior from Lawrenceville, Ga., has established his career-high for points in a game twice – first with 13 points in the Seminoles' victory over Hofstra on Tuesday night in Tallahassee then with 15 points in Florida State's win over Temple in the first round of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night. He was named the game MVP as the Seminoles defeated the Owls, 78-69.
As Ewin and his teammates prepare to play UMass in their second of two games at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off on Sunday at 3:30, it's all about confidence for the 2024 National Junior College Player of the Year. With a 5-1 record, the Seminoles' game against the Minutemen is set for a national television audience on ESPN2. The all-time series between Florida State and UMass is tied a four games each and Sunday's game is the first time the two teams have met since 2014.
The Seminoles' game against UMass couldn't come at a better time for Ewin.
"I feel like my confidence on the court is growing each day," said Ewin. "My confidence has increased because of the chemistry I have built with my teammates. We began growing that chemistry this summer and it's beginning to translate into our games. It's a really good feeling because all of my teammates are great people and great friends."
Ewin is averaging 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds with double figure scoring in four of his last five games and his first near double-double of 15 points and nine rebounds against Temple. The first-year Seminole forward entered the 2024-25 season with 14 games at the Division I level (at Ole Miss during the 2022-23 season) and one double-figure scoring game of 10 points against UCF (December 14, 2023). He totaled his Ole Miss high of five rebounds in the Rebels' win over UCF.
It's also on the defensive end of the court where Ewin is starting to make his mark. He enters Florida State's game against UMass with seven steals and as a cornerstone of the Seminoles' defense that leads the ACC in steals and turnovers forced. His presence in the paint is helping the Seminoles' limit their first six opponents to 66.0 points scored per game and a cumulative field goal shooting mark of .414 percent.
Florida State forced Temple into 14 turnovers in Friday's victory; the Owls entered the game committing an average of 9.8 turnovers per game. The Seminoles totaled nine steals and six blocked shots and limited Temple to five made 3-point shots in the victory for the garnet and gold.
"It's a different defense than you're used to seeing," said Temple head coach Adam Fisher following Friday's game.
Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton has been excited about Ewin since the 6-10 forward who led South Plains Community College to the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament signed with the Seminoles in April of 2024. Ewin led South Plains to the WJCAC conference championship and was named as the league's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and to the All-Conference team. South Plains held the nation's No 1 national ranking for 12 weeks during the 2023-24 season.
"Malique is a player we really like because he fits well in so many ways with our team concept," said Hamilton. "He's versatile, will help us both offensively and defensively, and plays hard all of the time. Malique is a true all-around player, who makes big time plays on offense and defense."
Ewin, who emulates Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis on the court, is growing as comfortable in the classroom as he is on the basketball court.
Ewin earned an Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies from South Plains Community College in May of 2024 and is finding his groove academically as the fall semester quickly draws to a conclusion. He is majoring in social science at Florida State and is well on his way to earning his degree after spending his first collegiate year at Ole Miss before attending South Plains for one year.
Ewin's smooth transition to understanding Florida State's offensive and defensive schemes is gaining speed as the Seminoles' non-conference season begins to wrap up with the first ACC game of the season already on the horizon. The Seminoles play two December ACC games at NC State on December 7 and at home against Louisville on December 21.
According to sophomore Taylor Bol Bowen, Ewin is well on his way to becoming a defensive stopper in the paint.
"Malique is just getting started," said Bol Bowen. "He is an elite talent with a bright future. Malique is a great teammate and a great partner in the front court as we are trying to solidify ourselves as one of the top front court duos in college basketball. He is also very creative and bright; the sky is the limit for him."
The junior from Lawrenceville, Ga., has established his career-high for points in a game twice – first with 13 points in the Seminoles' victory over Hofstra on Tuesday night in Tallahassee then with 15 points in Florida State's win over Temple in the first round of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night. He was named the game MVP as the Seminoles defeated the Owls, 78-69.
As Ewin and his teammates prepare to play UMass in their second of two games at the Hall of Fame Tip-Off on Sunday at 3:30, it's all about confidence for the 2024 National Junior College Player of the Year. With a 5-1 record, the Seminoles' game against the Minutemen is set for a national television audience on ESPN2. The all-time series between Florida State and UMass is tied a four games each and Sunday's game is the first time the two teams have met since 2014.
The Seminoles' game against UMass couldn't come at a better time for Ewin.
"I feel like my confidence on the court is growing each day," said Ewin. "My confidence has increased because of the chemistry I have built with my teammates. We began growing that chemistry this summer and it's beginning to translate into our games. It's a really good feeling because all of my teammates are great people and great friends."
Ewin is averaging 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds with double figure scoring in four of his last five games and his first near double-double of 15 points and nine rebounds against Temple. The first-year Seminole forward entered the 2024-25 season with 14 games at the Division I level (at Ole Miss during the 2022-23 season) and one double-figure scoring game of 10 points against UCF (December 14, 2023). He totaled his Ole Miss high of five rebounds in the Rebels' win over UCF.
It's also on the defensive end of the court where Ewin is starting to make his mark. He enters Florida State's game against UMass with seven steals and as a cornerstone of the Seminoles' defense that leads the ACC in steals and turnovers forced. His presence in the paint is helping the Seminoles' limit their first six opponents to 66.0 points scored per game and a cumulative field goal shooting mark of .414 percent.
Florida State forced Temple into 14 turnovers in Friday's victory; the Owls entered the game committing an average of 9.8 turnovers per game. The Seminoles totaled nine steals and six blocked shots and limited Temple to five made 3-point shots in the victory for the garnet and gold.
"It's a different defense than you're used to seeing," said Temple head coach Adam Fisher following Friday's game.
Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton has been excited about Ewin since the 6-10 forward who led South Plains Community College to the No. 2 seed in the NJCAA National Championship Tournament signed with the Seminoles in April of 2024. Ewin led South Plains to the WJCAC conference championship and was named as the league's Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, and to the All-Conference team. South Plains held the nation's No 1 national ranking for 12 weeks during the 2023-24 season.
"Malique is a player we really like because he fits well in so many ways with our team concept," said Hamilton. "He's versatile, will help us both offensively and defensively, and plays hard all of the time. Malique is a true all-around player, who makes big time plays on offense and defense."
Ewin, who emulates Los Angeles Lakers star Anthony Davis on the court, is growing as comfortable in the classroom as he is on the basketball court.
Ewin earned an Associate of Arts Degree in General Studies from South Plains Community College in May of 2024 and is finding his groove academically as the fall semester quickly draws to a conclusion. He is majoring in social science at Florida State and is well on his way to earning his degree after spending his first collegiate year at Ole Miss before attending South Plains for one year.
Ewin's smooth transition to understanding Florida State's offensive and defensive schemes is gaining speed as the Seminoles' non-conference season begins to wrap up with the first ACC game of the season already on the horizon. The Seminoles play two December ACC games at NC State on December 7 and at home against Louisville on December 21.
According to sophomore Taylor Bol Bowen, Ewin is well on his way to becoming a defensive stopper in the paint.
"Malique is just getting started," said Bol Bowen. "He is an elite talent with a bright future. Malique is a great teammate and a great partner in the front court as we are trying to solidify ourselves as one of the top front court duos in college basketball. He is also very creative and bright; the sky is the limit for him."
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