TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida State Seminoles showcased a well-rounded team effort on Tuesday night, overpowering Tarleton State with a decisive score of 72-50.

Daquan Davis led the scoring for the Seminoles with nine points, while four other players contributed eight points each. In total, 12 players found the scoreboard, and 10 members of the team received significant playing time, with no starter exceeding 19 minutes on the court. Jamir Watkins, who had been named co-ACC player of the week following a stunning 30-point outing against Rice, had a quieter night with just eight points on 1-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes.

Florida State maintained a shooting percentage of 44% during the game and converted 24 of their 38 free throw attempts. They capitalized on 21 turnovers committed by the Tigers, turning those into 18 points, despite the fact that the Seminoles themselves committed 16 turnovers.

For Tarleton State, Chris Mpaka delivered a standout performance with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and five blocks. His efforts were supported by Matt Krass and Bubu Benjamin, who both scored 11 points, while Krass’s brother Nick contributed 10 points as well.

Heading into the second half with a narrow lead of 33-28, Bostyn Holt quickly expanded their advantage by scoring twice. Following Holt, Malique Ewin not only scored on a spin move but also hit a jumper shortly after, allowing Florida State to establish their first double-digit lead. They dominated the Texans at the start of the second half, outscoring them 19-5 to extend their lead to 52-33, and at one point, they led by as many as 25 points.

The game shifted in favor of Florida State after a 3-pointer from Daquan Davis about six and a half minutes into the first half. Matt Krass managed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to narrow the score to a five-point difference at halftime.

This win marks a promising start for the Seminoles, as they improve to 3-0, marking their best start to a season since 2020.