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Rebounding Is A Mindset For Malique Ewin As ACC Schedule Begins Saturday at NC State
12/6/2024 11:36:00 AM | Men's Basketball
RALEIGH, N.C. – As Malique Ewin's scoring and rebounding totals continued to climb on Tuesday against LSU in the ACC/SEC Challenge at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the first-year Seminole continued to do everything Florida State's coaches asked of him during timeouts: score, rebound, and help his teammates be successful.
When the final buzzer sounded, Ewin's statistical numbers jumped off the stat sheet. He scored a career-high tying 17 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds to go along with two assists and one blocked shot.
Ewin's rebounding total against the Tigers equaled the most rebounds in a single game by a Seminole since Michael Joiner totaled 17 on January 9, 2001 against Wake Forest. His first career double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds marked the first time since Michael Polite totaled 24 points and 17 rebounds against La Salle that a Florida State player had earned a double-double of at least 17 points and at least 17 rebounds.
Ewin's 11 offensive rebounds is believed to be a school record for a single game. The NCAA began tracking offensive rebounds during the 1981-82 season.
"I didn't realize that my rebounding total continued to rise that high during most of the game," said Ewin as the Seminoles began their preparations to open the ACC portion of their schedule at NC State on Saturday. "All I was concentrating on was that whenever the ball went up, either offensively or defensively, I was going up and getting it."
Saturday's game against the Wolfpack can be seen nationally on ESPNU. It's just the second time Florida State has opened its conference schedule against NC State. The Seminoles defeated the Wolfpack in Tallahassee to begin conference play in 1997.
Ewin's night against LSU began like all others as he began to assert his dominance on the boards early in the game.
Ewin had eight points and four rebounds at the 10:00 minute mark of the first half and the Seminoles trailed 17-15.
In the remaining 10 minutes of the second half, Ewin upped his points total to 13 and his rebound total to seven. He led a 9-0 Florida State scoring run in the first half that saw the score go from a two-point deficit to a seven-point advantage in the span of just under three minutes.
During that span of time, Ewin totaled four points and two rebounds which allowed the Seminoles to take a 35-32 lead in o the locker room at halftime.
Less than seven minutes into the second half, Ewin pulled down his 10th rebound giving him a career-high for rebounds in a game.
"I looked at the scoreboard for the first time with about five minutes played in the second half and saw I had a pretty good night going," said Ewin. "It made me want to go harder; it made me want to grab more rebounds."
Ewin's rebounding effort against the Tigers allowed the Seminoles to establish a season-high with 45 rebounds. The Seminoles earned a season-high 22 offensive rebounds which they turned into a 19-14 advantage over LSU – a total that came in large part because of Ewin's career-high of 11 rebounds.
Ewin's 11 offensive rebounds marked the first time since February 20, 1982 when Mitchell Wiggins pulled down 10 offensive rebounds that a Seminole had pulled down double figures offensive rebounds.
Ewin is Florida State's leader in rebounds with a career-high average of 6.7 rebounds per game. He ranks 13th in the conference in rebounding and fourth in offensive rebounds at 3.4 per game. His 17 rebounds against LSU are ranked as the second-highest single game total in the ACC this year.
Ewin was the No. 1 ranked player and the No. 1 ranked center in the junior college ranks by 247Sports during the 2023-24 season. He averaged 14.9 points and 9.0 rebounds during his one season at South Plains College in Texas after playing one season at Ole Miss.
Ewin has a knack for defense as illustrated by his near double-figure rebounding average to go along with 92 blocked shots and 35 steals last season at South Plains.
"I just look to wherever the offense is shooting the ball." said Ewin of his rebounding prowess. "I run to that spot, box out and a go up and get it. Nothing really special, but rebounding is about effort and extraordinary effort on defense is what is expected of every player on this team."
The most important aspect of Ewin's overall game right now is certainly his increased confidence which he is displaying both academically and athletically as a Seminole.
"My confidence is high," said Ewin. "It's as high as it's been since I arrived at Florida State during the summer. I'm growing more comfortable in everything I do."
At the end of the game against LSU, Ewin had no idea that he had scored 17 points and earned 17 rebounds.
"I was surprised by the rebounding total," said Ewin. "I just try to push myself to be better for my teammates. I didn't realize I had 17 rebounds until Coach Ham told me after the game. Each and every game I try to get more and more rebounds than the last game. My goal going into each game is to get more rebounds than I got the last game."
With that mindset, Ewin will put himself on the list of Florida State's all-time greatest rebounders during his career as a Seminole.
When the final buzzer sounded, Ewin's statistical numbers jumped off the stat sheet. He scored a career-high tying 17 points and pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds to go along with two assists and one blocked shot.
Ewin's rebounding total against the Tigers equaled the most rebounds in a single game by a Seminole since Michael Joiner totaled 17 on January 9, 2001 against Wake Forest. His first career double-double of 17 points and 17 rebounds marked the first time since Michael Polite totaled 24 points and 17 rebounds against La Salle that a Florida State player had earned a double-double of at least 17 points and at least 17 rebounds.
Ewin's 11 offensive rebounds is believed to be a school record for a single game. The NCAA began tracking offensive rebounds during the 1981-82 season.
"I didn't realize that my rebounding total continued to rise that high during most of the game," said Ewin as the Seminoles began their preparations to open the ACC portion of their schedule at NC State on Saturday. "All I was concentrating on was that whenever the ball went up, either offensively or defensively, I was going up and getting it."
Saturday's game against the Wolfpack can be seen nationally on ESPNU. It's just the second time Florida State has opened its conference schedule against NC State. The Seminoles defeated the Wolfpack in Tallahassee to begin conference play in 1997.
Ewin's night against LSU began like all others as he began to assert his dominance on the boards early in the game.
Ewin had eight points and four rebounds at the 10:00 minute mark of the first half and the Seminoles trailed 17-15.
In the remaining 10 minutes of the second half, Ewin upped his points total to 13 and his rebound total to seven. He led a 9-0 Florida State scoring run in the first half that saw the score go from a two-point deficit to a seven-point advantage in the span of just under three minutes.
During that span of time, Ewin totaled four points and two rebounds which allowed the Seminoles to take a 35-32 lead in o the locker room at halftime.
Less than seven minutes into the second half, Ewin pulled down his 10th rebound giving him a career-high for rebounds in a game.
"I looked at the scoreboard for the first time with about five minutes played in the second half and saw I had a pretty good night going," said Ewin. "It made me want to go harder; it made me want to grab more rebounds."
Ewin's rebounding effort against the Tigers allowed the Seminoles to establish a season-high with 45 rebounds. The Seminoles earned a season-high 22 offensive rebounds which they turned into a 19-14 advantage over LSU – a total that came in large part because of Ewin's career-high of 11 rebounds.
Ewin's 11 offensive rebounds marked the first time since February 20, 1982 when Mitchell Wiggins pulled down 10 offensive rebounds that a Seminole had pulled down double figures offensive rebounds.
Ewin is Florida State's leader in rebounds with a career-high average of 6.7 rebounds per game. He ranks 13th in the conference in rebounding and fourth in offensive rebounds at 3.4 per game. His 17 rebounds against LSU are ranked as the second-highest single game total in the ACC this year.
Ewin was the No. 1 ranked player and the No. 1 ranked center in the junior college ranks by 247Sports during the 2023-24 season. He averaged 14.9 points and 9.0 rebounds during his one season at South Plains College in Texas after playing one season at Ole Miss.
Ewin has a knack for defense as illustrated by his near double-figure rebounding average to go along with 92 blocked shots and 35 steals last season at South Plains.
"I just look to wherever the offense is shooting the ball." said Ewin of his rebounding prowess. "I run to that spot, box out and a go up and get it. Nothing really special, but rebounding is about effort and extraordinary effort on defense is what is expected of every player on this team."
The most important aspect of Ewin's overall game right now is certainly his increased confidence which he is displaying both academically and athletically as a Seminole.
"My confidence is high," said Ewin. "It's as high as it's been since I arrived at Florida State during the summer. I'm growing more comfortable in everything I do."
At the end of the game against LSU, Ewin had no idea that he had scored 17 points and earned 17 rebounds.
"I was surprised by the rebounding total," said Ewin. "I just try to push myself to be better for my teammates. I didn't realize I had 17 rebounds until Coach Ham told me after the game. Each and every game I try to get more and more rebounds than the last game. My goal going into each game is to get more rebounds than I got the last game."
With that mindset, Ewin will put himself on the list of Florida State's all-time greatest rebounders during his career as a Seminole.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's BasketballFSU Football | Inside Seminole Football | Episode 4: Miami
Tuesday, September 30
FSU Football | Miami Week 6 Press Conference presented by Florida Blue
Monday, September 29
DC Tony White: “There’s something there”
Sunday, September 28
OC Gus Malzahn: "Respond to adversity"
Sunday, September 28