FSU Routs Murray State to Get Back to Sweet 16, 90-62

For the second straight season and the sixth time in program history, Florida State is headed to the Sweet 16. The fourth-seeded Seminoles advanced to the West Regional semifinals on Saturday night with a 90-62 victory over 12th-seeded Murray State in Hartford.

The Seminoles (29-7) held the Racers (28-5) to just 33 percent shooting and held a 45-33 rebounding edge in the rout. FSU shot 51 percent from the field and 11-for-27 from downtown in the victory.

Mfiondu Kabengele was the leading scorer for FSU for a second straight game, finishing with 22 points and seven rebounds. Terance Mann added 18 points and eight rebounds. The two combined to shoot 17-for-23 from the field. RaiQuan Gray, who started in place of the injured Phil Cofer, scored 11 points in the victory.

FSU fell into an early 14-7 hole, but responded with a 25-9 run and outscored the Racers for the remainder of the half, 43-20. Murray State never got any closer in the second half and FSU led by as many as 31 in the easy victory.

Ja Morant was as good as advertised early, but cooled down late. Morant finished with 28 points on 8-for-21 from the field, five rebounds and four assists. Shaq Buchanan scored 12 in the loss while Darnell Cowart chipped in with 11 points.

FSU will now take its show further west as it gets set to face either top-seeded Gonzaga or No. 9 seed Baylor in Anaheim on Thursday.

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