Jamir Watkins scored a game-high 17 points and host Florida State pulled away in the second half to beat Hofstra 79-61 Tuesday night in Tallahassee, Fla.
Watkins missed his first four shots from the field before hitting a 3-pointer to end the first half. He added 10 points in the second half for Florida State, which never trailed and improved to 4-1 for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Malique Ewin, who was limited to five minutes in the first half due to foul trouble, scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half. Taylor Bol Bowen scored 10 points for Florida State.
Jean Aranguren had 14 points and seven rebounds for Hofstra (4-1). Jaquan Sanders scored 13 points and KiJan Robinson tied a career high with 13 points off the bench for the Pride, who were trying to start 5-0 for the first time since 2004-05.
Florida State hit its first four shots and Hofstra opened 0-for-6 with two turnovers before mounting a 14-6 run that ended with Robinson sinking the game-tying 3-pointer with 9:09 left.
Bowen sank a 3-pointer on Florida State’s next trip to start a 13-2 run. The Pride scored seven of the next nine points before Watkins made his first field goal, a corner 3-pointer, to put Florida State up 32-23 at the half.
Cruz Davis scored seven points as Hofstra opened the second half with a 14-7 run to pull within 39-37 on Davis’ layup with 15:44 left. But after Davis missed a potential game-tying jumper 51 seconds later, Justin Thomas drained a 3-pointer to begin a 10-0 run in which the Pride turned the ball over on four consecutive possessions.
Hofstra got as close as nine points twice more before AJ Swinton’s 3-pointer extended Florida State’s lead to double digits for good at 56-44 with 10:22 left. The Seminoles ended the game on a 10-3 run over the final 3:23.
–Field Level Media
