Florida State men’s basketball heads into Thanksgiving on a four-game winning streak after a 91-57 victory over Western Carolina on Tuesday night.
It’s the first time the Seminoles have started the season 7-1 since 2019-20. FSU dominated from start to finish and nearly tied its season-best with 91 points.
It is the third time this season that the Seminoles held opponents under 60 points. FSU recorded a team-best 15 steals.
FSU leads the ACC in steals and that continues to be the strength on defense. FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton prioritizes aggressive defense and FSU has bought into it.
“When you get eight (steals). It has been statistically proven that you win 97 percent of the games,” Hamilton said. “So that is important to us. It gives you something to shoot for when you are out there playing. It kind of energizes you.”
The game was originally scheduled to be played in North Carolina. However, it was moved to Tallahassee due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, which hit that state in late-September. Proceeds from the game went to help with hurricane relief.
Western Carolina is coached by Tim Craft, who was raised in Tallahassee and is in his first season at the school. He was named head coach after spending 11 years as the head coach at Gardner-Webb
Malique Ewin sets the tone early in the first half
Fresh off a career night in FSU’s victory over UMass, Malique Ewin was looking for an encore performance.
Ewin knocked in 10 of FSU’s first 12 points, getting into double figures early.
Ewin continues to be more involved offensively, averaging 15 points in the last three games. Ewin finished with 12 points.
“He is learning how to be the best version of himself in our system, and we’re still trying to get him integrated into what we want him to do for us to be successful,” Hamilton said. “We’re moving in the right direction but not quite there yet. “
FSU basketball attacks the basket and makes its free throws
FSU has struggled to make its free throws consistently to start the season. Tuesday’s win was the team’s best at the line.
FSU played aggressively and attacked the basket, creating fouls, and getting to the charity stripe.
“I thought we were in attack mode in the beginning,” Hamilton said.
“We challenged our guys to start developing that mindset that allows you to come with the same level of energy every time we play. They responded in the first half. I’m very proud of them for that. “
The Seminoles got to the line 18 times and made 13 of 18 free throws. Ewin, Chandler Jackson, Taylor Bol Bowen and Daquan Davis were perfect and they went a combined 9 for 9.
FSU basketball goes deep into its bench
With the Seminoles up big, Hamilton had an opportunity to give his reserves significant minutes, especially in the second half.
FSU scored 38 points off the bench. The top scorer was freshman guard Davis, who scored 19 points.
Justin Thomas ended the first with a three-point buzzer-beater to end the half and finished the night with eight points.
While the Seminoles’ bench was productive, scoring-wise, Hamilton was disappointed in the energy level from the bench. He saw miscues and turnovers after resting his starters.
However, Hamilton was pleased with how they finished in the second half.
“Normally, our rotational players come in and give us an exceptional amount of energy. They had a little dip tonight,” Hamilton said. “They weren’t as sharp as they had been in some of the games they had played.”
UP NEXT: FSU will play at LSU in the ACC/SEC Challenge next Wednesday, followed by its ACC opener at N.C. State Saturday, Dec. 7.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Takeaways from FSU basketball’s blowout win over Western Carolina
