Florida State men’s basketball fought hard, but ultimately fell short against top-ranked Florida, losing 81-72 on Tuesday, November 10. The biggest culprit in the upset bid falling apart? A dismal 19% shooting performance from beyond the arc.
The Brutal Numbers That Sank the Ship
Nineteen percent from three-point range. Let that sink in. The Seminoles connected on just 4-of-21 attempts from deep. And if that wasn’t tough enough, they got absolutely smoked on the boards for the first time all season. Florida snagged 41 rebounds to FSU’s 29, including a back-breaking 12 offensive boards that led directly to 14 second-chance points for the Gators. When you’re trying to take down the number one team, you just can’t give away possessions like that.
It was especially brutal in the first half. FSU went a staggering 0-for-9 from three and shot a mere 12-of-31 from the field, heading into halftime trailing 31-29. Their first three of the entire night didn’t even drop until the 18:03 mark of the second half, courtesy of Shon Abaev from the corner. You just can’t start a game against the top team in the nation digging yourself that kind of hole. It forced FSU to completely pivot and try to attack the paint, but the damage was already done.
Glimmers of Hope Amidst the Storm
Despite the frustrating shooting, FSU didn’t quit. Point guard Anthony Robinson showed some serious grit, pouring in 11 first-half points and finishing the game with 19. Sebastian Rancik was a force, dropping 23 points, including nine of the Seminoles’ final 17. These guys kept FSU in it, refusing to let Florida truly pull away. The defense, too, had its moments, getting crucial stops just when the Gators looked like they might break free. Those defensive efforts even led to some highlight-reel fast-break dunks, one from Kam Taylor and a thunderous slam from Elisee Assui right over Isaiah Brown.
But even with that fight, Florida managed to hit key shots when it mattered. Urban Klavzar, for instance, put together an insane run of eight straight points in just over a minute of game time, from 6:15 to 5:05, to keep the Gators firmly in control. Florida also took advantage of their trips to the line, shooting 41 free throws and converting 30, while FSU went 14-of-18. When you’re missing from deep and giving up extra possessions and free throws, beating the #1 team becomes an impossible mountain to climb.
It’s a tough loss for FSU, a game where the effort was there, but the execution, especially from long range, just wasn’t. They’ll need to clean up the three-point shooting and find a way to crash the boards harder if they want to make some noise this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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