Game two of the Luke Loucks era finished with a similar result to game one. Florida State (2-0, 0-0) cracked the century mark once again, Jalen Crawford made a late-game three, and the ‘Noles defeated a clearly overmatched Alabama State (0-1, 0-0) 101-64.
This one was over in a hurry, with FSU leading for 39:45 of the game — just about as long as you can lead a college basketball game. Florida State had five players scoring 12 or more points and an impressive 10 players who scored overall.
### First Half
Fresh off dropping 108 points on Alcorn State, the Seminoles came out flame throwing. Kobe MaGee and Lajae Jones ripped the nets on back-to-back threes, both assisted by Robert McCray V, giving FSU a 6-0 lead before fans even got to their seats. The fast start continued with Alex Steen and McCray joining the scoring fun, pushing the ‘Noles to an 18-7 lead after just four minutes.
Defensively, Florida State made a strong impact in the passing lanes. Four different Seminoles registered steals in the opening eight minutes, leading to 13 early points off turnovers. By the time Thomas Bassong drilled a corner three off yet another assist from McCray, FSU led 25-10, prompting Alabama State head coach Tony Madlock to call a timeout.
If there was a bugaboo in the first half for the ‘Noles, it was the same issue seen during the exhibition season: fouls. Florida State defenders initiate pressure well beyond the three-point line in this defensive system, but their inability or tardiness to rotate properly after the trap has been beaten allowed Alabama State to get players into the paint with ease. When that happened, Florida State fouled frequently.
Adding to the complexity were some head-scratching calls against Florida State for offensive fouls, including one on Somerville for essentially getting landed on. As a result, the Hornets were in the bonus with over seven minutes remaining. Fortunately for Seminole fans, Alabama State left plenty of points at the free-throw line, shooting just 6-of-13 in the opening frame.
Still, the steady trips to the line stopped Florida State from pushing out in transition, causing the FSU offense to sputter. By the under-four media timeout, a lead that once stood at 17 had been whittled down to nine at 37-28. Loucks lit into his team and the referees during the timeout, and the Seminoles responded. Florida State didn’t foul again and finished the half on a 9-2 run to take a 46-30 lead into the locker room.
### Second Half
Loucks told the media before halftime that he was about to light up his team, and the opening minutes of the second half indicated he wasn’t lying. The Seminoles opened the second stanza with an 8-0 run in the first 90 seconds, with every point coming on a dunk, layup, or free throws. McCray quit taking — and missing — threes, instead driving aggressively to the rack twice. The second time, off a Kobe MaGee pocket pick and assist, pushed the score to 54-30.
The two teams then traded twos (Alabama State) for threes (Florida State) over the next couple of minutes. MaGee knocked down one from the top of the key, and Steen added one the old-fashioned way with a hoop and the harm. Florida State continued to extend the lead with a three by Chauncey Wiggins and a pair of free throws from Cam Miles, bringing the lead to 65-34 with over 15 minutes left in the game.
With the game well in hand, things got a little sloppy, as one might expect. Both squads converted fastbreak layups off steals, and both hit threes off nice passes. The margin bounced between 27 and 33 points for the better part of the next 10 minutes.
Best of all, Florida State kept their foot on the gas and grabbed a very NET-friendly 37-point win.
### Box Score and Takeaways
**Chief of the Court:** Lajae Jones wowed FSU media with his shooting during an open summer practice, and it was on full display in this game. The senior guard, who transferred from St. Bonaventure, went 3-for-3 from deep in the opening four minutes, igniting the crowd and giving FSU an early lead they’d never relinquish. He’d make it 4-for-4 later in the half and finished the game an ultra-efficient 8-for-10 from the field.
However, Jones is more than just a shooter. At 6’7” and with NBA-level hops, Jones can rock the rim with the best of them — a fact an Alabama State player learned the hard way on a posterizing slam in the second half. Jones is also a capable defender, using his big frame to guard multiple positions and consistently crashing the defensive glass.
FSU went to the locker room up 16, and Loucks was fuming. That’s a great sign in a coach, reminding many of Curt Cignetti up in Bloomington. But it’s a bit concerning for the Seminoles. Two games into the season, and they’re already feeling themselves enough to play sloppy, lazy basketball? For a team that talked all summer about playing with a chip on its shoulder, it sure didn’t take long to forget they were picked last in the ACC by some in the media.
Loucks wants them playing loose and free-spirited, but that’s not the same as sloppy.
Thomas Bassong is dripping with potential. He reminds some of a smaller, quicker Mfiondu Kabengele but is already more skilled than Fi was at this stage of his first year on campus. He’s a legitimate threat from the perimeter, especially in the corner, and his long arms and strong anticipation make him a nightmare in passing lanes and on the offensive glass. The Seminoles will likely need to open the NIL wallet for him next offseason.
FSU attempted 47 three-pointers in this game. That’s a lot.
### Up Next
Florida State faces a monumental step up in competition when they head down to Gainesville to play the defending national champion Florida Gators. The ‘Noles will likely be double-digit underdogs in this one, but it’ll be an intriguing watch to see how Luke Loucks’ pace-and-space system looks against an elite opponent.
The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day), and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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