Florida State used a 17-2 run at the end of the first half to stretch its lead to 26-points at the break before rolling to a 109-61 victory over Clemson at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla.
The 48-point loss was the largest of the season for the Tigers, who had lost by 32 points at Louisville on Jan. 19. The loss also snapped Clemson’s two-game winning streak.
The 109 points by FSU were the most points scored against a Brad Brownell coached Clemson team. The Tigers have not given up 100 points in a game since 103-68 home loss to Wake Forest in 2005.
Dwayne Bacon led the 15th-ranked Seminoles, and all scorers, with a career high 29 points. He scored 18 points in the first half on 6-of-8 shooting. Clemson was led by Avry Holmes’ 15 points. Marcquise Reed scored 12 points and Jaron Blossomgame added 11.
Florida State (20-4, 8-3 ACC) opened the game by connecting on 7 of its first 11 shots, and then started the second half the same way. The ‘Noles led by as many 51 points in the second half and shot 66 percent from the field overall, the best ever against a Brownell team.
The Seminoles scored 32 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half. They finished the game with 17 three-pointers, 17-of-30 overall. That was the most three-pointers ever on a Brownell coached Clemson team as well.
Clemson (13-9, 3-7 ACC) hung tough early on and trailed by just six points, 22-16, with 10:32 to play in the first half after a Blossomgame three-pointer and two Marcquise Reed free throws. After a mini 7-0 run by FSU, the Tigers stayed within 11 points, 34-23, with 5:39 to play in the opening 20 minutes, but the Seminoles closed out the half with a 17-2 run to take a 51-25 lead into the locker room.
The main reason why the Tigers struggled so bad was the fact the ‘Noles forced 22 turnovers, a season-high for the Tigers. Clemson came into the game as one of the nation’s best at taking care of the basketball.
The Seminoles outscored Clemson 35-9 off turnovers and 18-2 off fast break points. Their length gave Clemson fits all afternoon as they had a 40-20 advantage in the paint.
The Tigers will host Syracuse on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
—Above photo: Florida State Seminoles guard Terance Mann (14) dunks the ball during the first half against the Clemson Tigers at the Donald L. Tucker Center. (photo by Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports)