Tampa, Florida: Florida State Routs Florida A&M 112-69 as Sebastian Rancik Scores a Career High 25

Florida State opened its season with a 112-69 win over Florida A&M on Monday night at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida. The game was the nightcap of the Orion180 Tipoff Classic and the first regular season meeting between the two Tallahassee schools since 1991.

Sebastian Rancik, a transfer from Colorado, scored a career high 25 points for the Seminoles. Florida State (1-0) scored the first 10 points of the game, pushed the lead to 26-10 on a 13-2 run with 9:05 left in the first half, and closed the half on an 8-0 run to lead 54-27 at the break. The second half brought more of the same, and the Rattlers never got the margin back within reach.

Six Seminoles in double figures

Rancik made 8 of 12 shots and grabbed four rebounds. Freshman center Marcis Ponder, listed at 7 feet and 285 pounds, recorded a double-double in his first college game with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony Robinson II added 16 points and eight rebounds, Kameron Taylor finished with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, Brandon Bass Jr. scored 13 and Martay Barnes added 10.

Florida State won the game inside. The Seminoles scored 62 points in the paint to Florida A&M's 22, made 26 of 34 free throws, and turned 17 Rattlers turnovers into 22 points. Florida State shot 8 for 24 from 3-point range, including 3 for 12 in the first half, and still cleared 100 points for the second straight season opener. The 112 points were the program's highest total since it scored 113 against Chicago State on November 25, 2019.

The Rattlers' night

Jaden Kempson led Florida A&M (0-1) with a game high 27 points and three assists. Daisean Williford totaled 19 points and five rebounds, and Antonio Barker Jr. chipped in 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Rattlers had three players in double figures, but they could not keep up once Florida State's size took over in the paint.

Florida A&M is in its second season under head coach Charlie Ward, a Florida State legend and former Heisman Trophy winner. The two schools, separated by a short distance in Tallahassee, had not met in a regular season game since a December 1991 matchup. They played an exhibition game last year before coaches Luke Loucks of Florida State and Ward brought the series back for real on Monday.

What comes next

Florida State, which is trying to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021, plays its home opener on Friday, November 6, against Troy at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.