One day after suffering its first loss of the 2015-16 season, Florida State came back with a vengeance to down DePaul, 83-67 on day two of the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The teams went back and forth early on Saturday, but after a 3-pointer by DePaul’s Myke Henry cut the FSU lead to 16-15, the Seminoles responded with a 22-4 run to seize control of the contest. During the run, newcomers accounted for 16 of the 22 points.
After being held to 8 points on Friday, freshman sensation Dwayne Bacon bounced back to score 19 points on an efficient 6-for-7 shooting. Fellow freshman Malik Beasley was the only other Seminole to score in double-figures with 11 and junior college transfer Benji Bell added 9 off the bench. Bacon and Beasley led the team with 5 rebounds each.
The Seminoles (3-1) led 43-26 at the break and in the second half, DePaul could get no closer than 11. Aaron Simpson led the Blue Demons (1-3) with 20 points off the bench. Henry chipped in with 15, but only two in the second half. Guard Billy Garrett Jr. added 12 in the loss.
FSU dominated the game statistically, shooting 53 percent from the field and outrebounding the Blue Demons, 36-29. The Florida State bench accounted for 42 of the Seminoles’ 83 points. In addition to Bell’s 9, Jarquez Smith scored 8 points while Terance Mann and Devon Bookert each scored 7. Last season’s leading scorer for the Seminoles, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, was held without a field goal for the first time since last December, but finished with a game-high 8 assists.
FSU will wrap up the Paradise Jam on Monday against Ohio in the fifth place game. DePaul will take on Norfolk State on Monday in the seventh place game.
