Matthew Cleveland scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help host Florida State break away in the second half for an 80-63 victory over South Carolina Upstate on Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla.
Cleveland was one of five Seminoles (3-9) to score in double figures, giving Florida State that many such scorers in a game for the first time this season as well as its first set of back-to-back victories.
It was Cleveland’s third career double-double and his second in his past three games after he recorded one last week in a loss at No. 3-ranked Virginia.
Floyd Rideau Jr. led South Carolina Upstate (5-5), which had a three-game winning streak snapped, with 18 points and five rebounds, but the Seminoles’ defense held him to only five points in the second half.
Florida State used a 12-2 run to open the second half, which capped a stretch where the Seminoles scored 21 of 26 points after the Spartans had cut their lead to 29-28 with 4:36 left in the first half.
The Seminoles’ defense contributed to 14 turnovers that South Carolina Upstate committed, which led to 24 points.
Caleb Mills and Jalen Worley each had two steals to lead the defensive effort. Mills had 13 points while Worley totaled nine, nearly giving the Seminoles a sixth double-digit scorer.
SC Upstate shot 33.3 percent from the field including 5 for 20 from 3-point range. Jordan Gainey, Justin Bailey and Ahmir Langlais each finished with nine points.
Darin Green Jr. continued to impress, finishing with 15 points while Naheem McLeod totaled 12 points. Cameron Corhen followed up a solid outing against Louisville with 10 points and six rebounds.
Florida State led by as many as 19 near the end of the game and did not trail after the Spartans scored the opening bucket of the game.
The Seminoles will go for their third win in a row when they face St. John’s on Saturday in the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Fla.
South Carolina Upstate will next play at Kennesaw State on Dec. 20.
–Field Level Media
