The Florida State Seminoles basketball team secured their sixth win in the past eight games with an impressive 91-78 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Seminoles maintained control throughout the game, leading from start to finish and showcasing both offensive efficiency and defensive resilience. This win marked seven consecutive home victories for FSU against GT since February 2018. In the first half, FSU demonstrated strong teamwork, while Georgia Tech struggled with shooting accuracy. The second half saw a brief surge by the Yellow Jackets but was ultimately countered by Florida State's determined defense and timely scoring.
Seminoles' Dominant First Half Performance
The Seminoles set the tone early, leading 37-24 at halftime. Their offense was characterized by smooth ball movement and minimal turnovers, finishing the half with just one turnover and 11 assists. Despite only converting 44.1% of their shots, they managed to stay ahead thanks to balanced scoring efforts. Players like Jamir Watkins and Jerry Deng contributed significantly with their three-point shooting. Justin Thomas also had an outstanding performance on the boards and with assists.
In the opening period, Florida State’s defense forced seven turnovers, converting them into 15 points. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech faced difficulties finding their rhythm offensively, hitting just 26% of their shots and making only two out of 14 three-point attempts. Duncan Powell led the Yellow Jackets with 11 points, but the team's struggles were evident as they barely edged out FSU in rebounds, 21-20. The Seminoles capitalized on these opportunities to build a solid lead heading into the break.
Second Half Surge and Final Push
The second half began with a flurry of activity from Georgia Tech, who quickly narrowed the gap to a single possession game with a 10-0 run. However, Florida State's defense tightened up, holding the Yellow Jackets scoreless for over two minutes. Taylor Bol Bowen played a pivotal role with crucial three-pointers, contributing significantly to the team's efforts. Despite some early turnovers, the Seminoles regained their composure and extended their lead back to double digits.
Bowen's stellar performance included a career-high 20 points, hitting 77.8% of his field goals and 60% from beyond the arc. Daquan Davis added excitement with an and-one play, while Malique Ewin achieved his fourth consecutive double-double. As Georgia Tech faltered with missed free throws and fouls, Florida State capitalized on every opportunity. A 16-3 run, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk by Bowen, sealed the victory. The Seminoles finished the game shooting 52.2% from the floor and outrebounded the Yellow Jackets by seven. Lance Terry led Georgia Tech with 23 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Seminoles' dominance.