Inside the box score: FSU 73, UF 71

1. With the win the Noles are now 10-2, which is their best start since opening with the same record in 2010-11. That team proceeded to lose three of the next four, including a resume killing loss against a terrible Auburn team. Of course, after those three losses, the Noles then ripped off 8 of 10 in the ACC, and they would go on to finish the season one possession short of the Elite 8, derailed by VCU's magical Final Four run. This team now faces a gauntlet of games where they'll likely be underdogs in at least five of the next six.

2. Dwayne Bacon made 5-8 3s on the night, which was a career high in makes and attempts. Entering the game 77% of his shot attempts had been 2s, but last night he attempted nine 2s and eight 3s. He had also missed 14-straight 3s over the past six games.

3. Chris Koumadje didn't exactly light up the scoreboard with just three points and four rebounds, but it's not a difficult argument to make that he was the 1st half MVP. Both Boris Bojanovsky and Jarquez Smith picked up two quick fouls to open the game, and Koumadje picked up three first half fouls himself. But the staff rode out the half with Koumadje in order to save Bojanovsky and Smith for the second half, where they both made several significant plays on defense. In that first half Koumadje didn't change his style at all because of the fouls, and instead played a long stretch of solid defense while the other bigs rested. It's clear that Koumadje is a long-term project, but his combination of size and athleticism is exciting for the future.

4. Florida generated seven steals, which was slightly below their season average of eight entering the game. Most of those steals came in half court sets rather than against UF's press. FSU's point guards combined for seven assists and three turnovers. Florida State has now handled the pressure defenses of VCU and Florida, which bodes well for the rest of the schedule. The Seminoles only allow a steal on 6.7% of possessions, which is the 19th stingiest in the nation, and No. 2 in the ACC.

5. FSU won 73-71 in a 74 possession game. It was the third straight game that Florida State won while scoring less than a point per possession. That is the first time that has happened in Leonard Hamilton's tenure at FSU. While FSU's offense had struggled in the previous two games, scoring 73 in 74 possessions vs the No. 2 defense in the nation is no joke, and FSU's offense moved up from 98th nationally to 85th. Florida State is only the 2nd team this year to score more than 70 vs Florida.