Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, November 9
Houston, Tx.
7:00 p.m.
Florida State
2-0,0-0ACC
73
vs
65
Rice University
1-1,0-0AAC
1
2
F
Florida St.
33
40
73
Rice
23
42
65
Watkins' 30 Points Leads Seminoles Over Rice, 73-65
11/9/2024 11:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Texas – Florida State's Jamir Watkins scored 30 points – including 17 in the second half – to lead the Seminoles to a 73-65 win over Rice in the first game of the Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 Tournament at the Toyota Center. Watkins (30) and junior Malique Ewin (11) scored 41 of the Seminoles' 73 points including 28 of Florida State's 40 second half points.
The Seminoles never trailed in opening their 2024-25 season with two consecutive wins. Florida State defeated Northern Kentucky in its season opener on Monday night.
Watkins hit a 3-point shot to open the open, after a layup by Rice's Kellen Amons, made it 4-4, Taylor Bol Bowen dunk gave the Seminoles the lead for good with 16:39 left in the first half.
While the Seminoles led for the remainder of the game, Amos hit a 3-point shot that pulled Rice to within 49-46 with 10 minutes remaining but Watkins scored 16 points of his 17 second half points from there including a thunderous right-hand dunk that capped a 13-2 run and gave Florida State a 68-53 lead with 2:30 to go.
Watkins made seven of 14 field goals and a career-high 14 free throw as he surpassed the 30 point mark for the second time in his career. He scored his career-high of 34 points against Virginia Tech in the second round of the 2024 ACC Tournament on March 13, 2024.
Florida State will play their third game of the season as it plays host to Tarleton State on Tuesday at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
Ewin scored 11 points as he and Watkins ranked as the only two Seminoles who scored in double figures. For Florida State, nine of the 12 players who earned playing time entered their names into the scoring column. Senior Justin Thomas totaled eight points.
Ewin and Bol Bowen led the Seminoles with seven rebounds each – career-high statistics for both players. Ewin led the Seminoles with five offensive rebounds while Bol Bowen led Florida State with a career-high seven offensive rebounds Thomas, junior Chandler Jackson, and freshman Alier Maluk totaled three rebounds each.
Freshman Daquan Davis and sophomore Jerry Deng scored five points each, as both newcomers provided valuable support to the Seminoles' offensive effort.
Rice was led by Alem Huseinovic, who scored 14 points, while Kellen Amos followed with 12 points to pace the Owls' offense.
Watkins totaled three of Florida State's six steals; the Seminoles have 20 steals in the first two games of the season. With seven steals, the Seminoles scores 23 points off of 17 Rice turnovers. Bol Bowen blocked two of Florida State's seven shots.
Florida State's defense limited Rice to 19 field goals made and a .358 shooting percentage for the game.
Season tickets for Florida State's home games are now on sale for as low as $150. Seminole fans interested in purchasing tickets for all regular season home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center can learn more here, or are encouraged to call the Florida State Ticket Office at 1-888-FSU-NOLE. Non-conference single game tickets are now available for purchase. ACC single game tickets will go on sale to Seminole Booster members on December 2nd.
The Seminoles never trailed in opening their 2024-25 season with two consecutive wins. Florida State defeated Northern Kentucky in its season opener on Monday night.
Watkins hit a 3-point shot to open the open, after a layup by Rice's Kellen Amons, made it 4-4, Taylor Bol Bowen dunk gave the Seminoles the lead for good with 16:39 left in the first half.
While the Seminoles led for the remainder of the game, Amos hit a 3-point shot that pulled Rice to within 49-46 with 10 minutes remaining but Watkins scored 16 points of his 17 second half points from there including a thunderous right-hand dunk that capped a 13-2 run and gave Florida State a 68-53 lead with 2:30 to go.
Watkins made seven of 14 field goals and a career-high 14 free throw as he surpassed the 30 point mark for the second time in his career. He scored his career-high of 34 points against Virginia Tech in the second round of the 2024 ACC Tournament on March 13, 2024.
Florida State will play their third game of the season as it plays host to Tarleton State on Tuesday at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
Ewin scored 11 points as he and Watkins ranked as the only two Seminoles who scored in double figures. For Florida State, nine of the 12 players who earned playing time entered their names into the scoring column. Senior Justin Thomas totaled eight points.
Ewin and Bol Bowen led the Seminoles with seven rebounds each – career-high statistics for both players. Ewin led the Seminoles with five offensive rebounds while Bol Bowen led Florida State with a career-high seven offensive rebounds Thomas, junior Chandler Jackson, and freshman Alier Maluk totaled three rebounds each.
Freshman Daquan Davis and sophomore Jerry Deng scored five points each, as both newcomers provided valuable support to the Seminoles' offensive effort.
Rice was led by Alem Huseinovic, who scored 14 points, while Kellen Amos followed with 12 points to pace the Owls' offense.
Watkins totaled three of Florida State's six steals; the Seminoles have 20 steals in the first two games of the season. With seven steals, the Seminoles scores 23 points off of 17 Rice turnovers. Bol Bowen blocked two of Florida State's seven shots.
Florida State's defense limited Rice to 19 field goals made and a .358 shooting percentage for the game.
Season tickets for Florida State's home games are now on sale for as low as $150. Seminole fans interested in purchasing tickets for all regular season home games at the Donald L. Tucker Center can learn more here, or are encouraged to call the Florida State Ticket Office at 1-888-FSU-NOLE. Non-conference single game tickets are now available for purchase. ACC single game tickets will go on sale to Seminole Booster members on December 2nd.
Team Stats
FSU
Rice
FG%
.426
.358
3FG%
.263
.320
FT%
.647
.613
RB
36
39
TO
13
17
STL
9
6
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
30
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
14
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
8
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballForward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's BasketballGuard
/ Men's BasketballGuard
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