Florida St. knocks off No. 6 Florida
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Revamped rosters, familiar result.
Devin Vassell scored 13 points, M.J. Walker added 12 and Florida State upset No. 6 Florida 63-51 on Sunday, extending its series winning streak to six.
The Seminoles (1-1) avoided their first 0-2 start since 2000 thanks to suffocating defense that forced the rival Gators (1-1) into 16 turnovers and a woeful shooting performance. Florida was 14 of 50 from the field, including 4 of 22 from 3-point range.
“We’re both playing with a lot of inexperienced players, a lot of first-year guys,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “I’m sure they’re trying to find themselves and we’re trying to find ourselves as well.”
Florida’s football team scored more points (56) than its basketball squad did this weekend.
“It can be a big wake-up call and it can show how this team can band together rather than splinter,” Gators forward Kerry Blackshear Jr. said.
A six-point favorite at home, Florida expected some growing pains from a team that features graduate transfer Blackshear, three sophomores and five freshmen. The Gators clearly weren’t ready to match Florida State’s defensive intensity.
A sellout crowd witnessed FSU take over late in the first half and really seize control after the break. The Gators went 10 minutes with just one field goal — a dunk on an inbound play — as Florida State pulled ahead 38-25 in the opening minutes of the second half. The ’Noles went up by 14 on Anthony Polite’s 3-pointer with 9:31 to play.
The Seminoles made 11 of their first 20 shots in the second half.
They also finished with five blocked shots and eight steals.
“It’s hard to run offense against them,” Florida coach Mike White said. “They extend as much as anyone in the country. They deny everything. They swarm to the ball. They put a lot of ball pressure on you. It’s hard to run a bunch of sets.”
MICHIGAN STATE 100 BINGHAMTON 47
Playing a night after the death of his brother, Cassius Winston had 17 points and 11 assists to lift the No. 1 Spartans to an emotional home victory over the Bearcats.
Zachary Winston, Cassius’ younger brother, died after being hit by a westbound Amtrak train in Albion on Saturday night. He was a basketball player at Albion College.
Cassius Winston took his usual spot in Michigan State’s starting lineup. The crowd observed a moment of silence in Zachary’s honor, then Cassius assisted on Michigan State’s first basket and sank his first shot, a 3-pointer from near the top of the key.
LOUISVILLE 78 YOUNGSTOWN STATE 55
Jordan Nwora scored 21 points to pace the No. 5 Cardinals in their home opener.
Louisville (2-0) made its first 11 shots to jump out to a 24-8 lead. The Cardinals then started the second half making seven of their first nine shots to put away the Penguins (1-1).
Steven Enoch added 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds for Louisville
Naz Bohannon led the Penguins with 14 points.
Women SOUTH CAROLINA 63 MARYLAND 54
Freshman Aliyah Boston scored 14 points and was an immovable force in the middle of the defense, blocking five shots to help the visiting No. 8 Gamecocks beat the No. 4 Terrapins in an early matchup between two of the nation’s premier programs.
South Carolina (2-0) never trailed in its first road test.
Maryland (1-1) returned all five starters from a squad that went 29-5 and won the Big Ten regular-season title.
UCONN 72, CALIFORNIA 61
Christyn Williams scored 24 points as the No. 5 Huskies opened with a closer-than-expected home victory over the Golden Bears.
Megan Walker had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Crystal Dangerfield added 14 points for the Huskies. They haven’t lost a season opener since 1995.
Sara Anastasieska led Cal (1-1) with 25 points.