By Ken Cross
SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida State’s Jamir Watkins and Tulane’s Kaleb Banks posed a prime shootout inside of Florida State’s 77-64 win over Tulane on Saturday afternoon. Banks led all scorers with 33 points while Watkins led FSU with 29 to allow the ‘Noles their eighth win.
Banks proved why he could work himself into AAC Player of the Year honors as he led the Green Wave (5-7) with 33 points and 16 rebounds. He recorded his fifth double-double of the season while scoring off of rebounds and using dribble penetration to net 13 of Tulane’s points although the Seminoles (8-3) led 37-22 at the break.
Watkins and Banks turned the game into a must-see outing as Watkins made 19-of-23 free throws in moving the Seminoles to their 10th consecutive win in Orange Bowl Classic competition.
FSU held Tulane to 1-of-7 from the floor and forced four turnovers in a 12-possession stretch in the first half. Watkins asserted his game early as he scored six points in that stretch and the Seminoles took a 24-10 advantage just 11:30 into the game.
Both players were a tough matchup for both defenses although Tulane shot only 38.7 percent. Banks made 11-of-20 from the field while the rest of the Green Waves’ team was 9-for-39 on the afternoon.
Meanwhile, FSU guard Jerry Deng complemented Watkins while playing 33 minutes and making two of his three triples in the first four minutes of the second half. Florida State built its biggest lead to 46-27 with 16:02 remaining.
Tulane guard Rowan Brumbaugh scored 15 points in 39 minutes. He and Banks hit two threes early as Tulane held a 6-0 lead with 17:57 left in the first half.
The Seminoles placed Malik Ewin and Justin Thomas in double figures with ten points each. Ewin was a tough cover around the basket while Thomas scored in transition late in the game and slammed an alley-oop from Watkins to give Florida State a 70-58 lead with 1:25 remaining.
FSU scored 16 points off of 14 Tulane turnovers while assisting 15 of 21 makes, outscoring the Green Wave, 16-10 off the break.