FSU wins ugly vs Charleston Southern

Every out-of-conference season seems to have at least one of these games: an uninspired win over an over-matched team in an empty arena. FSU basketball had failed to cover the spread in just one game this season, and tonight they made it two as they coasted through a 69-58 win to improve to 10-1.

Charleston Southern made a game of it for a half. They made four of their first seven 3s, and actually led by four at one point. The cold shooting ‘Noles got their act together soon enough to take a 28-26 lead at the break.

The second half started slowly, for about a minute and a half. That’s when Florida State finally went on a tear, and before you knew it a 1-point had suddenly ballooned to 20.

But credit Charleston Southern, who kept playing hard. They took advantage of FSU’s season long weakness on the defensive glass, grabbing 41% of the available offensive boards. And they turned many of these into points. Part of the issue was that FSU played a zone for almost the entire 2nd half so that Ike Obiagu could stay in the game. Part of the issue was that Mfiondu Kabengele was out, with his foot in a boot. And part of the issue was just low effort.

Because of that, and FSU’s cold shooting from beyond the arc, the home team could never blow it wide open. Instead, things got sloppy late and when the buzzer sounded, the Seminoles had won by 11.

Phil Cofer had another solid game with 19 points and six rebounds. Terance Mann had 17 points, seven assists, and six rebounds. And Braian Angola scored 11.

Florida State hosts Southern Miss on Thursday.