In a captivating matchup on Sunday during the Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff, Florida State University dominated the court, defeating the University of Massachusetts by a score of 92-59. Malique Ewin played a pivotal role in the Seminoles’ victory, contributing 17 points to the team’s offensive surge. Florida State showcased an impressive performance in the second half, scoring 55 points, enabling them to pull away solidly after holding a 10-point lead at halftime.

Alongside Ewin, Jamir Watkins added 14 points while Jerry Deng chipped in with 10 for FSU, improving their record to 6-1 for the season. For UMass, Jaylen Curry was the standout player, scoring 17 points. Daniel Rivera supported with 12 points, Hank Guerengomba contributed 10, and Daniel Hankins-Sanford had a noteworthy performance on the boards with 13 rebounds.

The Seminoles showcased their offensive prowess early in the second half, initiating an 8-0 scoring run that extended their lead to 60-37 with just 12 minutes left in the game. Shortly after, a 9-0 run marked their highest advantage at 89-53 with only 3 minutes remaining.

UMass briefly snatched the lead during the first half with a 10-0 run that brought the score to 24-23 about four minutes before halftime. However, Florida State regained the lead, scoring five free throws in quick succession. As the first half closed, the Seminoles made three 3-pointers, bringing the score to 37-27 as they went into the break.

Florida State demonstrated remarkable shooting accuracy, finishing the game with a shooting percentage of 57%. Their bench also played a significant role, contributing 41 points in total. Conversely, UMass struggled with their shooting, finishing at only 31%, which included a dismal 3-point shooting performance, missing 21 of their 24 attempts.

This game marked Florida State’s second in the tournament, having previously defeated Temple, while UMass faced defeat against them a day earlier.