Osborne, Koprivica lead FSU in final tune-up before ACC play
Florida State finished the non-conference home schedule the way it had done for the last half of the decade — with a resounding victory in Tallahassee.
Malik Osborne scored 12 of his season-high 14 points in the first half as No. 17 Florida State cruised to an 88-71 win over North Alabama on Saturday as the Seminoles won their 38th straight non-conference home game. That streak started after a loss to Nebraska on Dec. 1, 2014.
None of the current Florida State players have experienced a home loss in a non-conference game.
“We’re going to have pride playing in the Tuck Center,” said Osborne, a transfer from Rice who made 6 of 12 shots from the floor. “And we instill that mindset in the younger guys. We’re going to defend it until we can’t walk no more.”
This one may not have been as difficult. But with Florida State wrapping up its non-conference portion of the schedule, it’s a streak that will continue into the 2020-21 season.
Balsa Koprivica scored 13 points while Trent Forrest had 10 points and six assists for Florida State (11-2), which has won seven of its games by 10 or more points.
Koprivica, a 7-foot freshman, has developed quickly and shown he can be an effective player down low with an array of post moves.
“Balsa really has all the potential to be a stretch 5, whatever he wants to be at that position,” Forrest said. “The more he keeps playing and the more he develops.”
The Seminoles made 16 of 23 (69 %) of their shots from inside the 3-point arc in the first half en route to a 47-26 lead at the break. Florida State finished 32 of 64 (50 % ) from the floor.
Jamari Blackmon scored 15 points and Christian Agnew added 12 points and eight rebounds for North Alabama (5-8). The Lions shot 24 of 52 (46.2 % ) from the floor.
But the Seminoles made it look easy and were even automatic at the free-throw line, connecting on 17 of 17 shots. Florida State was averaging 75 percent from the free-throw line coming into the game.
“That’s really important to us,” Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton said. “I thought we would be a good free-throw shooting team. A lot of it is just confidence.”
A No. 19 Kentucky 78, No. 3 Louisville 70 (OT): Nick Richards had 13 points, including seven consecutive ones in overtime, and the host Wildcats (9-3) scored the final eight points for an upset victory over the Cardinals (11-2) in a thrilling Bluegrass rivalry showdown.
Louisville led 68-65 on Jordan Nwora’s three-pointer with 2:20 left before Richards converted a threepoint play to make it 70-68. The junior forward added another layup and two more foul shots before Immanuel Quickley and Tyrese Maxey provided a six-point cushion from the line. Ashton Hagans’ dunk with 4.9 seconds left sealed the tense win at Rupp Arena.
A No. 4 Duke 75, Brown 55: Vernon Carey Jr. scored 19 points to help the host Blue Devils beat the Bears.
Alex O’Connell added 14 points and Wendell Moore Jr. had 10 points for the
Blue Devils (11-1) in their final nonconference game of the regular season.
The Blue Devils won their fifth consecutive game, all by at least 12 points, since their 150-game home winning streak against nonconference opponents ended against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 26.
Brandon Anderson scored 16 points to lead Brown in its third consecutive loss. The Bears trailed 35-29 at halftime.
A No. 9 Memphis 97,
New Orleans 55: Precious Achiuwa had 18 points and 10 rebounds, Lester Quinones added 13 points as the host Tigers (11-1) built a first-half lead and easily beat New Orleans (4-8).
A No. 12 Butler 67, Louisiana-Monroe 36: Derrik Smits scored 16 points off the bench to lead the host Bulldogs (12-1) over the Warhawks (4-7), for their third consecutive win.
STATE SCHOOLS
Florida 102, Long Beach State 63: Kerry Blackshear Jr., and Keyontae Johnson scored 21 points apiece and the host Gators (8-4) overwhelmed Long Beach State (4-11) in their final tuneup before Southeastern Conference play. Noah Locke chipped in 16 points and 10 rebounds for his first doubledouble. Freshman Omar Payne, starting in place of Scottie Lewis (concussion), also nearly accomplished the feat. He finished with 11 points and nine boards.
Minnesota 89, Florida International 62: Gabe Kalscheur scored 23 points, and Daniel Oturu added 21 points and a career-high 20 rebounds as the host Golden Gophers beat the Panthers.
Devon Andrews had 14 points to lead FIU after scoring just three in the first half due to foul trouble. Osasumwen Osaghae, who started the game leading the nation in blocks, had 12 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks for the Panthers, who had their six-game winning streak snapped.