Georgia Overpowers Florida State in ACC/SEC Challenge Blowout
TALLAHASSEE - Florida State’s return to the Tucker Center on Tuesday night didn’t bring the bounce-back performance they were hoping for. Instead, it was another tough night for the Seminoles, who dropped their second straight game in lopsided fashion - this time to a red-hot Georgia squad, 107-73, in the Third Annual ACC/SEC Challenge.
Now 5-3 on the season, Florida State suffered its first home loss under head coach Luke Loucks. Georgia, meanwhile, keeps rolling, improving to 8-1 behind a dominant all-around effort that exposed many of the same issues that plagued FSU in their previous loss to Texas A&M.
A Rough Start, Again
Just like Friday, the Seminoles found themselves in an early hole. Georgia came out aggressive and efficient, and FSU simply couldn’t keep pace.
In the first eight minutes, the Bulldogs built a double-digit lead, and from there, it only got worse. Florida State struggled to find rhythm offensively, missed opportunities at the free-throw line, and got beat badly on the glass.
By halftime, Georgia had already racked up 24 points at the rim - all layups and dunks - while FSU limped into the locker room trailing 49-30. The Seminoles shot just 28.9% from the field in the first half, including 22.2% from beyond the arc and 40% from the line. The offense lacked flow, and the defense couldn’t slow down Georgia’s relentless attack.
Second-Half Spiral
If there was any hope for a second-half surge, it didn’t last long. Georgia came out of the break and hit the gas, stretching the lead to as much as 40 points midway through the half. The Bulldogs were in complete control, imposing their will on both ends of the floor.
The numbers told the story. Georgia finished with 56 points in the paint and shot a blistering 75.9% at the rim.
They were efficient across the board - 57.1% from the field, 36.7% from three, and 76.2% at the line - while also dominating the glass with a 48-27 rebounding edge. That rebounding advantage translated into a 21-13 edge in second-chance points.
And the Bulldogs didn’t just beat FSU in the halfcourt - they ran the floor, too. Georgia outscored the Seminoles 21-4 in fast-break points, turning defense into offense with ease.
Seminoles’ Bright Spots Hard to Find
Robert McCray V led the Seminoles with 18 points, and Chauncey Wiggins added 15, but it was a night where individual efforts were overshadowed by team-wide struggles. McCray and Alex Steen each pulled down five rebounds to lead the team, while Lajae Jones dished out three assists.
As a team, FSU shot 39.4% from the field and went 13-of-27 on shots at the rim - a decent number, but not nearly enough to keep pace with Georgia’s efficiency. The ‘Noles hit just 8-of-30 from beyond the arc and continued to struggle at the free-throw line, converting only 9-of-18 attempts.
Turnovers also hurt. FSU coughed it up 11 times, which Georgia turned into 18 points.
The Seminoles managed just nine assists all night, a sign of how stagnant the offense became. Defensively, they registered eight steals and six blocks, but those flashes weren’t enough to stem the tide.
Georgia’s Balanced Attack
Georgia had four players in double figures, led by Jeremiah Wilkinson’s 22 points. The Bulldogs moved the ball well, finishing with 20 assists to 14 turnovers, and kept the pressure on all night. Their ability to score inside, rebound, and push the pace made them the better team in every phase of the game.
Looking Ahead
Florida State still holds a 19-12 all-time edge over Georgia, including an 8-4 mark in Tallahassee, but this latest meeting was all Bulldogs. It also marked FSU’s third straight loss in the ACC/SEC Challenge - two of them coming against Georgia, both at home, with a road loss at LSU sandwiched in between.
And there’s no time to dwell. The road ahead doesn’t get any easier.
Next up: a trip to Houston to face No. 8 Houston in the Houston Hoops Showdown at the Toyota Center on Saturday night.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET, with coverage on Peacock.
For Florida State, it’s a chance to regroup, reset, and try to find answers against one of the top teams in the country.