The Daily Nole

FSU Edges Past Rutgers in ACC/Big Ten Challenge, 78-73

Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

After losing eight straight years in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Florida State has now won two in a row. The Seminoles got their first road win in the challenge in 13 years on Tuesday night with a 78-73 victory over Rutgers.

C.J. Walker scored a career-high 24 points, including 22 in the second half to pace the Seminoles (6-0) in the contest. Walker also led the team with four steals.

The contest was close most of the way as FSU led 36-35 at the break. Rutgers led 45-42 with more than 13 minutes to play before Walker scored nine straight points to ignite an 11-0 run for Florida State, which never looked back.

The Scarlet Knights (6-1) were able to draw to within three on four different occasions the remainder of the way, but each time, FSU had the answer. On three of those four occasions, it was Walker who came up with the timely basket. The other came on a 3-pointer from senior Phil Cofer, who set a new career-high with four made triples in five attempts en route to scoring 19 points.

Leading scorers for both teams were held in single digits as Terance Mann finished with just seven for FSU and Geo Baker just five for Rutgers. Eugene Omoruyi scored a career-high 22 points to lead the Scarlet Knights while Corey Sanders added 20 to go with a game-high five assists. Deshawn added 15 points and a game-high 16 rebounds in the loss.

FSU lost the battle on the glass 42-36, but freshman Ike Obiagu was still a force inside. Obiagu finished with a team-high 10 rebounds and five blocks to go with five points. The Seminoles shot 45 percent as a team to Rutgers’ 41 and forced 14 turnovers while committing just nine in their first true road game of the season.

FSU will have nearly a week off before returning to action on Monday at rival Florida. The Scarlet Knights will open Big Ten play on Sunday at Minnesota.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson

One Comment

  1. finance85

    November 29, 2017 at 8:42 am

    FSU did a pretty good job limiting turnovers.

    Defensive rebounding is still a problem.

    Free throw shooting remains a huge problem, and it doesn’t seem like these coaches know how to fix it.

    I really like this team, and how different players are stepping up when others struggle. Cofer looks comfortable shooting from the corner. The last couple years his outside shot looked awful.

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