ACC play began on the wrong foot for Florida State Saturday night as the Seminoles were manhandled in South Bend by 25th-ranked Notre Dame, 83-63.
Florida State was without leading scorer Aaron Thomas, who was ruled ineligible by the school for the remainder of the season. Without its best player on both ends of the floor, Florida State allowed the Fighting Irish to shoot 52 percent from the field and dominate the paint offensively.
The Seminoles had no answer for Notre Dame 6’10” junior Zach Auguste, who finished with a career-high 26 points on 11-for-15 from the field to go along with 7 rebounds. Auguste threw down an emphatic slam at the end of the first half to give Notre Dame a 38-30 halftime lead.
Guards Jerian Grant and Demetrius Jackson each added 18 points for Notre Dame. Grant dished out a game-high 5 assists for the Fighting Irish in the victory.
Florida State led 19-15 midway through the first half before an 18-2 Notre Dame run gave the Fighting Irish control of the game they would never relinquish. Notre Dame led by as many as 28 in the second half.
Montay Brandon scored 14 points to lead the Seminoles, but on just 6-for-16 shooting. Brandon entered the game shooting 65 percent from the field. Junior guard Devon Bookert scored 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for FSU in his first game back from an ankle injury.
No other Florida State player scored in double-figures, but 7’3” center Boris Bojanovsky tied a season-high with a game-best 10 rebounds.
The Seminoles with the loss dropped their ACC opener for a second straight season. Florida State (4-5, 0-1 ACC) will conclude the non-conference with four games against in-state opponents and a visit to Mississippi State. FSU returns home to face North Florida on Wednesday.
Notre Dame (10-1, 1-0 ACC) will wait a week before facing Purdue on Saturday.
