NCAAB Game Recap - North Florida at Florida State
Wed Dec 19, 2018 7:00 PM EST

Samf
70
Tenn
83
F
UVA
69
SouthCar
52
F
Aub
71
NCSU
78
F
NFla
81
FSU
95
F
NCAT
60
VaTec
82
F
Woff
87
MissSt
98
F
CenAR
53
Ind
86
F
(N/A)
54
USC-Up
85
F
Maris
58
UNH
49
F
CBU
79
South
76
F
Brev
29
GWebb
106
F
(N/A)
64
FAU
76
F
StFNY
52
StJon
86
F
SacHr
76
Seton
90
F
DelSt
73
Del
71
F
SeLA
68
Gram
69
F
Corn
70
Toled
86
F
(N/A)
54
Lafy
95
F
StPet
74
FaDi
83
F
UCIrv
52
E MI
48
F
PSU
73
Duques
67
F
Hof
71
Stony
64
F
ODU
63
Rich
54
F
HCU
73
Mia-FL
80
F
UNCW
71
GASt
86
F
W MI
72
Dayt
85
F
UMKC
72
CenMI
81
F
(N/A)
85
FlGlf
87
F
Niag
60
Clev
82
F
W Ky
74
Belm
80
F
ORU
63
WichSt
84
F
ArkLR
89
Mem
99
F
TXSo
72
Lamar
80
F
(N/A)
43
NDSU
90
F
UCSB
74
NebOm
85
F
BethC
63
Quin
87
F
NCC
65
StLou
74
F
AlaAM
67
USA
79
F
USM
51
KSU
55
F
Rider
58
Drake
76
F
Valpa
49
TAMU
71
F
GrCan
73
NrthIA
62
F
InWor
71
DeP
81
F
Mont
42
Ariz
61
F
IdaSt
77
UtVal
88
F
UCLA
64
Cin
93
F
CSNor
57
NMSt
92
F
GaTec
69
Ark
65
F
(N/A)
50
UCRiv
87
F
Bois
69
LoyMa
70
F
NoAZ
60
USF
76
F
Buck
56
StMar
85
F
Cal
73
Fres
95
F
SIU-E
73
WaSt
89
F

Dec 19, 2018, 7:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

North Florida

39

42

81

(11) Florida State

46

49

95

Kabengele leads Florida State past North Florida 95-81
Wed Dec 19, 2018 10:54 PM

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Mfiondu Kabengele is no ordinary reserve.

He packs quite a punch for No. 11 Florida State.

Kabengele scored a career-high 24 points, helping the Seminoles pull away for a 95-81 win against North Florida on Wednesday night.

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound sophomore made 7 of 12 shots from the floor, 10 of 10 free throws and pulled down seven rebounds as Florida State (10-1) earned its fifth straight victory.

"A beast," North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll said. "And he is from the old school. He ain't from the new school. And praise God he ain't listening to anybody and praise God he doesn't get caught up in all that minutiae on Twitter and all that. I told him after the game, `If you stay this way, you are going to make as much as you ever want to make. If you stay and do what you do."'

Kabengele is averaging 11.2 points per game. He has scored in double figures in seven of Florida State's 11 games.

"I'm not the type of person that overtly overtalents somebody," Kabengele said. "I have to work for everything I have. All of my success comes from my hard work. So I have to feed that and continue to work on my game."

Led by Kabengele, Florida State had five players score in double figures. Terance Mann had 17 points, including several alley-oop dunks, as the Seminoles dominated inside. They finished with 64 points in the paint.

J.T. Escobar, who played at Maclay School and Florida A&M High in Tallahassee, had 27 points for North Florida (5-8). He went 6 for 6 from 3-point range.

"I was happy for J.T. Escobar," Driscoll said. "Played well in front of his hometown. That was cool."

Florida State led 46-39 at the break and opened the second half with a 12-2 run. The Seminoles led by as many as 24 points.

Trent Forrest had 10 points and seven assists for Florida State, which shot 50.6 percent (40 for 79) from the floor, but went just 3 for 23 from beyond the arc.

North Florida shot 50 percent (27 of 54).

The Seminoles also opened the 2017-18 season at 10-1. They went 11-1 in nonconference play last season.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Florida State could make an argument that it is playing like a top-10 team, especially with a win over Saint Louis on Saturday.

SITTING OUT

Senior forward Phil Cofer made his season debut for Florida State on Monday, playing five scoreless minutes in a win over Southeast Missouri. But Cofer, who was sidelined by a preseason foot injury, did not dress against North Florida.

"Phil's injury has healed," coach Leonard Hamilton said. "It just takes you a while for you to get back in the rhythm that is necessary for him to get to the level that he has been. We are just moving cautiously. He probably could have played tonight. But I'm looking at what's best for him, what's best for us."

STRUGGLES VS. P5

North Florida is 2-54 against Power 5 schools under Driscoll.

The Ospreys, who have already traveled more than 9,000 miles in just two months, will have another chance when they face Auburn later in December.

BIG PICTURE

North Florida: Escobar was electric, but the Ospreys had 19 turnovers and struggled to defend Florida State's guards.

Florida State: The Seminoles had 10 players make at least one basket and hit the 90-point mark for the second time this season.

UP NEXT

North Florida plays at Auburn on Dec. 29.

Florida State plays Saint Louis on Saturday.

Leaders

North Florida PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Escobar 27 0 2 1 0 0
N. Horchler 13 0 0 6 1 0
Florida State PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
M. Kabengele 24 0 0 7 0 0
T. Mann 17 0 2 1 1 0

Team Comparison

NFla FSU
Points For 81 95
Field Goals 27/54-50% 40/79-51%
Three Pointers 10/25-40% 3/23-13%
Free Throws 17/26-65% 12/13-92%
Offensive Rebounds 11 14
Defensive Rebounds 21 20
Rebounds 37 34
Blocks 1 3
Steals 2 11
Turnovers 19 6
Personal Fouls 15 20
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 Reg Season - FSU Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Wed Dec 19 NFla 81 @ FSU 95 J. Escobar 27 M. Kabengele 24

Game Information

Stadium: Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Florida
Attendance: 6,209
Game Time: