Chronicling Terance Mann’s fantastic second half to push FSU past Vermont in the NCAA Tournament

Florida State’s win over Vermont in the first round of the NCAA Tournament was anything but a foregone conclusion at halftime. Due to amazing three-point shooting from 13-seed UVM, the 4-seed Seminoles found themselves tied 27-27 at intermission.

FSU guard Terance Mann was a rather pedestrian participant during the first half, contributing just a pair of points on 1-2 shooting. But the senior leader put the game on his shoulders after the break, leading the ’Noles to a drama-free 76-69 win over the Catamounts. Here’s how it happened— when you read through how tight the sequencing was, it really speaks to the magnitude of Mann’s performance after intermission. Let’s review:

• 16:47: Mann breaks into the assist column for the first time in the game with a pass to the top scorer, Mfiondu Kabengele, who brings Florida State to within one of UVM, at 34-33
• 15:36: Mann drops a jumper to give the Seminoles the lead, 37-36
• 12:57: A Mann dunk breaks a 40-40 tie to put FSU up 42-40
• 10:18: Trailing by a point, Mann’s offensive board and put-back gives the ’Noles a 46-45 lead, an advantage that FSU would not relinquish
• 7:58: After a quick breather, Mann snags a defensive rebound
• 7:45: Mann absorbs a foul, and drains both shots to put Florida State up 52-48
• 6:10: Mann converts a layup off a Kabengele steal: 55-48, ’Noles
• 5:17: Another defensive rebound for Mann
• 4:28: Mann makes another layup to extend the FSU margin to 59-51
• 3:35: Mann blocks a shot, grabs the rebound, and is fouled
• 3:33: Mann makes a free throw, and the Seminoles lead 62-53
• 2:12: Mann makes two more free throws to put the Seminoles up 66-58
• 1:52: Mann comes down with another UVM miss
• 1:10: Mann drains a pair from the charity stripe: FSU 71, UVM 58

Mann’s final line: 19 points (17 in the second half), with 8 rebounds.

What a half. That's timely production. That's clutch efficiency. That's senior leadership. That's Terance Mann in March.