Florida State University Athletics
Tuesday, November 26
7:00
Florida State
7-1,0-0ACC
91
vs
57
Western Carolina University
2-3,0-0SoCon
1
2
F
Western Caro.
26
31
57
Florida St.
49
42
91
Daquan Davis Scores 19 To Lead Florida State Over Western Carolina, 91-57
11/26/2024 10:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TALLAHASSEE – Freshman Daquan Davis scored a career-high 19 points and the Florida State basketball team raised it record 7-1 with a dominating 91-57 victory over Western Carolina at the Donald L. Tucker Center. Also in double figure scoring were senior Jamir Watkins with 14 points and junior Malique Ewin with 12 points.
The Seminoles led wire-to-wire as Ewin scored the first basket of the game and Florida State scored 16 of the first 19 points of the game and led 16-3 after the first six minutes of the game. The Seminoles led by 26 points during the first half and held a commanding 49-26 at the half.
Florida State shot .542 percent from the field in the second half, increased its lead to 34 points, outscored the visitors by a 42-31 margin the second half, and improved to 7-1 for the first time since the start of the 2019-20 season.
The game between the Seminoles and the Catamounts was originally scheduled to be played as a neutral site game at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, N.C. Florida State's administration worked with the Catamount's administration to move the game to the Donald L. Tucker Center and play it as a home game for the Seminoles following the devastation to Asheville and the surrounding areas by Hurricane Helene.
Davis played his best game as a Seminole with 19 points, four rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes of playing time. He made five of six shots from the field, three of four 3-point shots, and six of seven free throws. He improved on his previous high for points (10 against Florida on November 15) by nine points.
Watkins continued his torrid scoring pace as he scored in double figures for the seventh time in eight games this season, and for the 26th time the last 27 games dating to January 9, 2024 against Wake Forest. Watkins made a career-high four 3-point field goals and earned four assists.
Watkins notched his 100th career three-pointer with a long-range shot at the 7:01 mark of the first half, stretching the Seminoles' lead to 31-17.
Bostyn Holt delivered an efficient performance, scoring nine points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field. He also totaled three steals and two assists.
Chandler Jackson added eight points, while also earning three assists and a career-high five steals.
Jackson has scored 17 points with nine assists and zero turnovers in his last two games and 44 minutes played.
Senior Justin Thomas, who scored eight points, hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, to give Florida State a 49-29 lead going into the break.
The Seminoles maintained their momentum in the second half, starting with a 3-point shot by Watkins at the 18:55 mark, assisted by Holt.
Christian Nitu knocked down two free throws to push the Seminoles lead to 30, (making the score 76-46. Nitu finished the game with two points and one rebound in nine minutes of playing time.
Western Carolina was led by Brandon Morgan, who scored a team-leading 13 points.
Florida State continued its overwhelming defensive play as it totaled 15 steals and five blocked shots. The Seminoles forced the Catamounts into 19 turnovers which were converted into 20 points.
Offensively, the Seminoles were credited with 19 assists on 31 baskets, shot .574 percent from the field (31 of 54), shot .429 percent from the 3-point line (nine of 21), and made 20 free throws. The Seminoles' shooting performance from the 3-point line marked the second consecutive games they made nine long range shots.
Florida State travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU on December 3, 2024 in the second annual ACC/SEC Challenge.
The Seminoles led wire-to-wire as Ewin scored the first basket of the game and Florida State scored 16 of the first 19 points of the game and led 16-3 after the first six minutes of the game. The Seminoles led by 26 points during the first half and held a commanding 49-26 at the half.
Florida State shot .542 percent from the field in the second half, increased its lead to 34 points, outscored the visitors by a 42-31 margin the second half, and improved to 7-1 for the first time since the start of the 2019-20 season.
The game between the Seminoles and the Catamounts was originally scheduled to be played as a neutral site game at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, N.C. Florida State's administration worked with the Catamount's administration to move the game to the Donald L. Tucker Center and play it as a home game for the Seminoles following the devastation to Asheville and the surrounding areas by Hurricane Helene.
Davis played his best game as a Seminole with 19 points, four rebounds, and one assist in 20 minutes of playing time. He made five of six shots from the field, three of four 3-point shots, and six of seven free throws. He improved on his previous high for points (10 against Florida on November 15) by nine points.
Watkins continued his torrid scoring pace as he scored in double figures for the seventh time in eight games this season, and for the 26th time the last 27 games dating to January 9, 2024 against Wake Forest. Watkins made a career-high four 3-point field goals and earned four assists.
Watkins notched his 100th career three-pointer with a long-range shot at the 7:01 mark of the first half, stretching the Seminoles' lead to 31-17.
Bostyn Holt delivered an efficient performance, scoring nine points on 4-for-4 shooting from the field. He also totaled three steals and two assists.
Chandler Jackson added eight points, while also earning three assists and a career-high five steals.
Jackson has scored 17 points with nine assists and zero turnovers in his last two games and 44 minutes played.
Senior Justin Thomas, who scored eight points, hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer, to give Florida State a 49-29 lead going into the break.
The Seminoles maintained their momentum in the second half, starting with a 3-point shot by Watkins at the 18:55 mark, assisted by Holt.
Christian Nitu knocked down two free throws to push the Seminoles lead to 30, (making the score 76-46. Nitu finished the game with two points and one rebound in nine minutes of playing time.
Western Carolina was led by Brandon Morgan, who scored a team-leading 13 points.
Florida State continued its overwhelming defensive play as it totaled 15 steals and five blocked shots. The Seminoles forced the Catamounts into 19 turnovers which were converted into 20 points.
Offensively, the Seminoles were credited with 19 assists on 31 baskets, shot .574 percent from the field (31 of 54), shot .429 percent from the 3-point line (nine of 21), and made 20 free throws. The Seminoles' shooting performance from the 3-point line marked the second consecutive games they made nine long range shots.
Florida State travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU on December 3, 2024 in the second annual ACC/SEC Challenge.
Team Stats
WCU
FSU
FG%
.328
.574
3FG%
.222
.429
FT%
.778
.769
RB
31
36
TO
19
18
STL
6
15
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
19
FGM
5
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
Guard
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