ATLANTA (Seminoles.com) – The No. 17 Florida State Seminoles earned their second conference sweep this season after defeating Georgia Tech 69-47 on Saturday afternoon.
The Seminoles (20-5, 8-4) used a similar formula for success against the Yellow Jackets (11-15, 3-10) as they did in their first meeting.
After holding Georgia Tech to 49 points on 28.3 percent from the floor two weeks ago in Tallahassee, the Noles defense swarmed the Yellow Jackets, limiting them to 47 points on 16-of-59 shooting from the floor (27.1 percent), 8-23 from 3-point range (34.8 percent) and forcing 14 turnovers.
The 47 points allowed by the Seminoles was the fewest in the 70-game history between the two schools and the lowest Florida State has allowed in an ACC game since it held Clemson to 41 points on Jan. 9, 2014.
Fresh off the first double-double of his career just one game ago, where he scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, senior center Christ Koumadje continued the most dominant stretch of his career on both ends of the floor.
The N’Djamena, Chad, native scored 10 points, tied a career-high with 12 rebounds and blocked three shots. His 10-point, 12-rebound performance marked his second consecutive game with a double-double and second such performance of his career.
Over his last two games, the big man is averaging 15.0 points, 12.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while shooting 15-19 (78.9 percent) from the floor.
After falling behind 8-7 in the first five minutes of gameplay, Florida State used an 18-4 run to lead 25-12.
With 14:10 left in the first half, freshman guard Devin Vassell hit a 3-point shot that gave the Seminoles a lead that they would not surrender for the rest of the afternoon.
A few possessions later, Vassell produced a thunderous block that led to a transition 3-pointer by graduate guard David Nichols.
Vassell, a native of nearby Suwanee, Ga., turned in his best performance of the season in conference play, as he led the Noles with 11 points, grabbed three rebounds, forced two steals and hit two 3-point shots.
After the Yellow Jackets made a 3-pointer with 6:50 left in the half to end the Florida State run, the Noles answered back with a pair of Koumadje dunks and a fast break layup from senior forward Terance Mann to bring the score to 31-15.
While Mann did not light up the scoreboard, the Seminoles’ senior leader continued to stake his claim as one of the conferences top all-around performers. Mann finished the matchup with seven points, eight rebounds and two steals in just 23 minutes of action.
After entering the second half up 34-23, the Seminoles began with back-to-back dunks from redshirt senior forward Phil Cofer and Mann in the first minute of action.
Up 43-28 with 13:12 left to play, sophomore guard M.J. Walker sparked a fast break with a chase-down block that led to a redshirt sophomore Mfiondu Kabengele slam to bring the Seminoles lead to 17.
Florida State continued to show that it’s just not the deepest team in the ACC, but one of the deepest teams in all of college basketball. In priding itself with the motto “18 strong,” the Noles bench outscored the Yellow Jackets 35-7.
In ACC play, Florida State’s bench has now outscored its opponents 397-154 in 12 conference games.
Up 45-30 with 9:31 left to play, the Noles used a 10-0 run to put the game out of reach. Senior guard PJ Savoy sparked the run with a 3-point shot from the wing, followed by a Nichols 3-pointer off of a pump fake that had his defender leaving his feet.
Nichols provided a steady hand throughout the contest, as he finished with nine points on three-of-five from beyond the arc. After missing his last nine three-point shots entering Saturday, Nichols’ three 3-point shots made were tied for the second most he’s made in a game in a Seminoles uniform.
With 1:30 left in the game and the Noles holding a commanding 65-39 lead, Florida State’s ‘Green Vipers’ – the self-proclaimed name for its scout team – entered the game.
Redshirt-sophomore forward Harrison Prieto slammed down a dunk off of a redshirt junior Justin Lindner assist, marking the third ACC game in which he has scored off the bench.
Lindner would then draw a foul and hit two free throws, marking his first career points in a Florida State uniform to bring the game to 69-47.
In its 69-47 victory over the Yellow Jackets, the Noles won their seventh conference game in a row, tying a school record for consecutive ACC victories set in 2012.
The Seminoles continue their three-game road trip Tuesday as they take on the Clemson Tigers in Clemson, S.C., where they will look to win a school-record eight consecutive ACC games.
Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU.
