Seminoles Host Islanders for Military Appreciation

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida State men's basketball team continues its six-game homestand on Friday as the Seminoles host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi inside the Donald L. Tucker Center at 5 p.m. The game will be sponsored by VyStar Credit Union as part of Military Appreciation.

The matchup will be televised on ACC Network Extra, accessible through ESPN+, with Ariya Massoudi and Jacob Ridenhour on the call. The game will also air on the Seminole Sports Network with Eric Luallen and Adrian Crawford calling the action.

Florida State (2-1) suffered its first loss of the season this past Tuesday, falling to rival and No. 1-ranked Florida by a final score of 81-72. While the Seminoles were able to outscore the Gators in the paint, 32-20, it was Florida who had the upper hand in rebounding, tallying 12 more than FSU. The Gators also made a living at the free throw line, sinking 30 of their 41 attempts.

Despite taking a season-low 18 attempts at the foul line, the Seminoles continued to make the most of it by making 14. Through three games, Florida State is shooting 82.4 percent from the free throw line, which ranks 12th in the nation (75-of-91). Their average of 25.0 free throws made per game ranks seventh.

Sebastian Rancik scored a game-high 23 points in the loss to top-ranked Florida. After registering just six points in the first half, the junior forward poured in 17 in the second stanza.

He is currently averaging a team-best 22.0 points per game, which ranks 30th in the country. He has totaled 66 points so far, which is the most by a Seminole through the first three games of a season since 2015 (Malik Beasley).

Anthony Robinson II netted a season-high 19 points against Florida, going 6-of-12 from the field. The senior guard came into the contest with lots of experience playing the Gators from his time at Missouri. It marked the fifth time he has ever faced Florida.

Kam Taylor reached double-digit points for the third time this season, registering 10 against the Gators. The junior guard is currently shooting 54.5 percent from the field, having made12 of his 22 field goal attempts. Taylor and Rancik are the only Seminoles who have scored in double figures in all three games this season.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2-1) was selected to finish third in the Southland Conference Coaches Poll behind only McNeese State and Stephen F. Austin. The Islanders are coming off an 18-15 record last season where they finished 13-9 in league play. They return four players from last seasons team and brought in 12 newcomers, nine from the transfer portal and three freshmen.

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi opened the season with a 67-55 loss at Texas State, but the Islanders have rattled off back-to-back victories. They went on the road to defeat UL-Lafayette, 67-60, followed by a 102-58 victory against Dallas Christian in their home opener.

The Islanders have gotten scoring from several players so far through three games. They have eight players averaging at least six points per contest, led by a trio -- Desmond Kent Jr., Daniel Michelini-Jackson, and Lamin Foon -- who are all averaging 10 points per contest.

Florida State leads the all-time series, 3-1. The Seminoles have won the last two meetings, including a 95-54 victory in their last matchup which came in 2010.

For more information on Florida State men's basketball, check Seminoles.com for the latest news and scheduling information, and keep up with the team on social media through Twitter/X (@FSUHoops), Instagram (@FSUHoops) and Facebook (@FSUMBasketball).

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Players Mentioned

Sebastian Rancik

Anthony Robinson II

Kam Taylor

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