Did Florida State Seminoles' Paint Dominance Decide the Game Against Louisville Cardinals?

In a closely contested matchup, the Florida State Seminoles faced off against the Louisville Cardinals, resulting in a final score of 81-89. Despite their efforts, the Seminoles couldn't secure a win, moving their season record to an adjusted tally after this game. The Cardinals improved their standing with this victory at the KFC Yum! Center.

Game Highlights

The Seminoles showcased a strong offensive performance inside the paint, scoring 50 points from close-range shots. This was highlighted by their impressive 78 percent shooting accuracy for points in paint attempts. Malique Ewin stood out with his contribution of 19 points and nine rebounds, leading his team both in scoring and on the boards. His shooting was particularly efficient, hitting 90 percent from two-point range.

Jamir Watkins also made significant contributions with a team-high of 23 points and adding four rebounds to his stat line. His effort on both ends of the floor was notable despite facing tough opposition from Louisville's defense.

On defense, Taylor Bol Bowen made his presence felt by blocking three shots and grabbing three rebounds. However, despite these individual performances and dominating the paint offensively, turnovers proved costly for FSU with a total of 14 lost possessions which translated into seven points off turnovers for Louisville.

Louisville's Counterattack

The Cardinals capitalized on FSU's turnovers by scoring 17 points off these opportunities. They also demonstrated efficiency at the free-throw line making 88 percent of their attempts which contributed significantly to maintaining their lead throughout the game.

Louisville’s balanced attack saw them leading by as much as 20 points during the game thanks to contributions across their lineup including effective field goal percentage standing at 57 percent which helped them stay ahead despite FSU’s efforts to close down gaps.

Looking Ahead

The Florida State Seminoles will next face North Carolina Tar Heels at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee on February 24th at 7:00 PM EDT. Fans can catch all action live on ESPN as both teams look forward to securing another win in this regular-season encounter.