Kabengele leads Florida State past North Florida 95-81
AP
Dec 19, 2018
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Mfiondu Kabengele is no ordinary reserve.
He packs quite a punch for No. 11 Florida State Seminoles.
Kabengele scored a career-high 24 points, helping the Seminoles pull away for a 95-81 win against North Florida Ospreys on Wednesday night.
The 6-foot-10, 250-pound sophomore made 7 of 12 shots from the floor, 10 of 10 free throws and pulled down seven rebounds as Florida State (10-1) earned its fifth straight victory.
''A beast,'' North Florida coach Matthew Driscoll said. ''And he is from the old school. He ain't from the new school. And praise God he ain't listening to anybody and praise God he doesn't get caught up in all that minutiae on Twitter and all that. I told him after the game, `If you stay this way, you are going to make as much as you ever want to make. If you stay and do what you do.'''
Kabengele is averaging 11.2 points per game. He has scored in double figures in seven of Florida State's 11 games.
''I'm not the type of person that overtly overtalents somebody,'' Kabengele said. ''I have to work for everything I have. All of my success comes from my hard work. So I have to feed that and continue to work on my game.''
Led by Kabengele, Florida State had five players score in double figures. Terance Mann had 17 points, including several alley-oop dunks, as the Seminoles dominated inside. They finished with 64 points in the paint.
J.T. Escobar, who played at Maclay School and Florida A&M High in Tallahassee, had 27 points for North Florida (5-8). He went 6 for 6 from 3-point range.
''I was happy for J.T. Escobar,'' Driscoll said. ''Played well in front of his hometown. That was cool.''
Florida State led 46-39 at the break and opened the second half with a 12-2 run. The Seminoles led by as many as 24 points.
Trent Forrest had 10 points and seven assists for Florida State, which shot 50.6 percent (40 for 79) from the floor, but went just 3 for 23 from beyond the arc.
North Florida shot 50 percent (27 of 54).
The Seminoles also opened the 2017-18 season at 10-1. They went 11-1 in nonconference play last season.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Florida State could make an argument that it is playing like a top-10 team, especially with a win over Saint Louis on Saturday.
SITTING OUT
Senior forward Phil Cofer made his season debut for Florida State on Monday, playing five scoreless minutes in a win over Southeast Missouri. But Cofer, who was sidelined by a preseason foot injury, did not dress against North Florida.
''Phil's injury has healed,'' coach Leonard Hamilton said. ''It just takes you a while for you to get back in the rhythm that is necessary for him to get to the level that he has been. We are just moving cautiously. He probably could have played tonight. But I'm looking at what's best for him, what's best for us.''
STRUGGLES VS. P5
North Florida is 2-54 against Power 5 schools under Driscoll.
The Ospreys, who have already traveled more than 9,000 miles in just two months, will have another chance when they face Auburn later in December.
BIG PICTURE
North Florida: Escobar was electric, but the Ospreys had 19 turnovers and struggled to defend Florida State's guards.
Florida State: The Seminoles had 10 players make at least one basket and hit the 90-point mark for the second time this season.
UP NEXT
North Florida plays at Auburn on Dec. 29.
Florida State plays Saint Louis on Saturday.
Copyright 2018 by AP. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of AP is strictly prohibited.
1st Half
UNF
Ospreys
39
FSU
Seminoles
46
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by North Florida
19:43
+3
JT Escobar made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Ivan Gandia-Rosa
3-0
19:34
M.J. Walker missed jump shot
19:32
Defensive rebound by Wajid Aminu
19:17
+2
Noah Horchler made dunk
5-0
19:00
PJ Savoy missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:58
Defensive rebound by North Florida
18:41
+2
Wajid Aminu made layup, assist by JT Escobar
7-0
18:19
+2
Trent Forrest made layup
7-2
18:06
Ivan Gandia-Rosa missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:04
Offensive rebound by Wajid Aminu
17:57
+2
Ivan Gandia-Rosa made jump shot, assist by Wajid Aminu
9-2
17:43
+3
PJ Savoy made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trent Forrest
9-5
17:29
Turnover on Noah Horchler
17:29
+2
Terance Mann made layup
9-7
17:02
+3
JT Escobar made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Garrett Sams
12-7
16:37
PJ Savoy missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:35
Offensive rebound by Christ Koumadje
16:35
+2
Christ Koumadje made dunk, assist by Trent Forrest
12-9
16:00
Traveling violation turnover on Garrett Sams
15:41
Terance Mann missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:39
Defensive rebound by Wajid Aminu
15:27
Bad pass turnover on Garrett Sams, stolen by PJ Savoy
15:17
+2
PJ Savoy made layup
12-11
14:59
+3
Ivan Gandia-Rosa made 3-pt. jump shot
15-11
14:39
+3
M.J. Walker made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Terance Mann
15-14
14:22
+2
Wajid Aminu made layup, assist by Garrett Sams
17-14
14:11
+2
Christ Koumadje made dunk, assist by Trent Forrest
17-16
13:55
Jumpball received by Florida State
13:55
Lost ball turnover on Wajid Aminu, stolen by PJ Savoy
13:40
Mfiondu Kabengele missed layup
13:38
Offensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
13:27
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made tip-in
17-18
13:19
Brian Coffey II missed layup
13:18
Offensive rebound by Noah Horchler
13:10
+2
Noah Horchler made tip-in
19-18
13:02
David Nichols missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:19
Defensive rebound by Brian Coffey II
12:52
+2
Trip Day made jump shot
21-18
12:45
Personal foul on Trip Day
12:39
+2
Raiquan Gray made jump shot
21-20
12:15
+2
Noah Horchler made jump shot, assist by Trip Day
23-20
12:04
Mfiondu Kabengele missed layup
12:02
Offensive rebound by Anthony Polite
12:01
Personal foul on Carter Hendricksen
11:57
Anthony Polite missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:55
Offensive rebound by Devin Vassell
11:48
+2
Devin Vassell made jump shot
23-22
11:24
Carter Hendricksen missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:22
Defensive rebound by Raiquan Gray
11:10
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made dunk, assist by Devin Vassell
23-24
10:49
Shooting foul on David Nichols
10:48
Carter Hendricksen missed 1st of 3 free throws
10:48
+1
Carter Hendricksen made 2nd of 3 free throws
24-24
10:48
+1
Carter Hendricksen made 3rd of 3 free throws
25-24
10:31
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made jump shot
25-26
10:06
Lost ball turnover on Trip Day
9:51
Personal foul on Wajid Aminu
9:51
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 1st of 2 free throws
25-27
9:51
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 2nd of 2 free throws
25-28
9:39
Ivan Gandia-Rosa missed jump shot
9:37
Offensive rebound by North Florida
9:27
+3
Garrett Sams made 3-pt. jump shot
28-28
9:16
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made jump shot, assist by Raiquan Gray
28-30
9:05
Shooting foul on Devin Vassell
9:05
+1
Wajid Aminu made 1st of 2 free throws
29-30
9:05
Wajid Aminu missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:05
Defensive rebound by Christ Koumadje
8:57
+2
M.J. Walker made layup
29-32
8:41
Bad pass turnover on Garrett Sams, stolen by M.J. Walker
8:32
Trent Forrest missed jump shot
8:30
Offensive rebound by Trent Forrest
8:17
PJ Savoy missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:17
Personal foul on Christ Koumadje
8:17
Garrett Sams missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:15
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
8:06
M.J. Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:04
Defensive rebound by Ivan Gandia-Rosa
7:56
Ivan Gandia-Rosa missed 3-pt. jump shot
7:54
Defensive rebound by Christ Koumadje
7:44
Trent Forrest missed jump shot
7:42
Defensive rebound by Noah Horchler
7:31
Garrett Sams missed layup, blocked by Christ Koumadje
7:29
Defensive rebound by PJ Savoy
7:23
+2
Terance Mann made layup, assist by PJ Savoy
29-34
7:00
Garrett Sams missed jump shot
6:58
Defensive rebound by M.J. Walker
6:43
+2
Trent Forrest made layup, assist by Terance Mann
29-36
6:29
Bad pass turnover on Garrett Sams, stolen by M.J. Walker
6:08
Terance Mann missed layup
6:06
Offensive rebound by Christ Koumadje
6:01
Lost ball turnover on Christ Koumadje, stolen by Noah Horchler
5:40
Shooting foul on Terance Mann
5:40
Noah Horchler missed 1st of 2 free throws
5:40
+1
Noah Horchler made 2nd of 2 free throws
30-36
5:20
M.J. Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:18
Personal foul on JT Escobar
5:14
+2
Terance Mann made alley-oop shot, assist by Trent Forrest
30-38
4:53
Out of bounds turnover on Trip Day
4:28
Trent Forrest missed layup
4:26
Defensive rebound by North Florida
4:24
Wajid Aminu missed layup, blocked by Christ Koumadje
4:22
Offensive rebound by North Florida
4:20
+3
Trip Day made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Wajid Aminu
33-38
3:59
PJ Savoy missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:57
Offensive rebound by Christ Koumadje
3:52
+2
Christ Koumadje made layup
33-40
3:36
Brian Coffey II missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:34
Offensive rebound by Trip Day
3:16
Personal foul on M.J. Walker
3:11
Bad pass turnover on Trip Day, stolen by Anthony Polite
3:02
+2
David Nichols made jump shot
33-42
2:31
Carter Hendricksen missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:29
Defensive rebound by Devin Vassell
2:22
Raiquan Gray missed layup
2:20
Offensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
2:07
Devin Vassell missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:05
Defensive rebound by JT Escobar
2:02
Shooting foul on Mfiondu Kabengele
2:02
+1
JT Escobar made 1st of 2 free throws
34-42
2:02
JT Escobar missed 2nd of 2 free throws
2:02
Defensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
1:52
Wyatt Wilkes missed jump shot
1:50
Defensive rebound by Noah Horchler
1:39
Offensive foul on Garrett Sams
1:39
Turnover on Garrett Sams
1:27
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made jump shot, assist by David Nichols
34-44
1:11
Personal foul on Wyatt Wilkes
1:11
+1
Garrett Sams made 1st of 2 free throws
35-44
1:11
+1
Garrett Sams made 2nd of 2 free throws
36-44
52.0
+2
Devin Vassell made layup
36-46
45.0
JT Escobar missed layup
43.0
Defensive rebound by Devin Vassell
38.0
Raiquan Gray missed dunk
36.0
Defensive rebound by Noah Horchler
30.0
+3
JT Escobar made 3-pt. jump shot
39-46
7.0
Personal foul on Wajid Aminu
2.0
Mfiondu Kabengele missed jump shot
1.0
Defensive rebound by Garrett Sams
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
UNF
Ospreys
42
FSU
Seminoles
50
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:45
Wajid Aminu missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:43
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
19:32
+2
Christ Koumadje made dunk, assist by Trent Forrest
39-48
19:04
Lost ball turnover on Ivan Gandia-Rosa, stolen by Trent Forrest
18:58
Terance Mann missed layup
18:56
Offensive rebound by PJ Savoy
18:49
+2
PJ Savoy made tip-in
39-50
18:46
Shooting foul on Trent Forrest
18:46
+1
JT Escobar made 1st of 2 free throws
40-50
18:46
+1
JT Escobar made 2nd of 2 free throws
41-50
18:34
Personal foul on Noah Horchler
18:18
+2
Terance Mann made layup
41-52
18:08
Bad pass turnover on Noah Horchler, stolen by PJ Savoy
17:53
+2
Christ Koumadje made dunk, assist by M.J. Walker
41-54
17:35
Noah Horchler missed dunk, blocked by Christ Koumadje
17:33
Defensive rebound by Trent Forrest
17:30
Traveling violation turnover on Terance Mann
17:28
Lost ball turnover on Ivan Gandia-Rosa, stolen by Trent Forrest
17:20
+2
Terance Mann made dunk, assist by M.J. Walker
41-56
17:20
Lost ball turnover on JT Escobar, stolen by Trent Forrest
17:18
+2
Trent Forrest made dunk
41-58
16:45
+3
JT Escobar made 3-pt. jump shot
44-58
16:30
+2
PJ Savoy made jump shot
44-60
16:19
Lost ball turnover on JT Escobar, stolen by Terance Mann
16:15
+2
Terance Mann made dunk, assist by Trent Forrest
44-62
15:58
Shooting foul on Christ Koumadje
15:58
Personal foul on Terance Mann
15:57
Personal foul on PJ Savoy
15:54
Garrett Sams missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:52
Defensive rebound by Terance Mann
15:40
PJ Savoy missed jump shot
15:38
Offensive rebound by Anthony Polite
15:30
+2
Anthony Polite made jump shot
44-64
15:26
Turnover on Wajid Aminu
15:16
Bad pass turnover on Anthony Polite
15:10
Noah Horchler missed jump shot
15:08
Defensive rebound by Anthony Polite
15:00
PJ Savoy missed jump shot, blocked by Wajid Aminu
14:58
Defensive rebound by Ryan Burkhardt
14:58
Personal foul on Anthony Polite
14:44
Ivan Gandia-Rosa missed jump shot
14:42
Defensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
14:32
Shooting foul on Noah Horchler
14:32
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 1st of 2 free throws
44-65
14:32
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 2nd of 2 free throws
44-66
14:14
Turnover on Ivan Gandia-Rosa
13:57
Devin Vassell missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:55
Offensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
13:46
Mfiondu Kabengele missed tip-in
13:46
Offensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
13:46
+2
Anthony Polite made jump shot
44-68
13:24
+2
Garrett Sams made layup
46-68
13:15
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made layup, assist by Devin Vassell
46-70
13:06
+2
Noah Horchler made layup
48-70
12:46
Bad pass turnover on David Nichols, stolen by Trip Day
12:29
Turnover on Brian Coffey II
12:25
Shooting foul on Trip Day
12:25
Devin Vassell missed 1st of 2 free throws
12:25
+1
Devin Vassell made 2nd of 2 free throws
48-71
12:25
+1
Devin Vassell made 2nd of 2 free throws
48-72
12:08
+2
Trip Day made layup, assist by JT Escobar
50-72
11:43
David Nichols missed jump shot
11:41
Personal foul on Trip Day
11:33
Shooting foul on Trip Day
11:33
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 1st of 2 free throws
50-73
11:33
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 2nd of 2 free throws
50-74
11:25
Carter Hendricksen missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:23
Defensive rebound by David Nichols
11:13
Anthony Polite missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:11
Defensive rebound by Wajid Aminu
10:54
Shooting foul on Christ Koumadje
10:54
+1
Trip Day made 1st of 2 free throws
51-74
10:54
+1
Trip Day made 2nd of 2 free throws
52-74
10:41
+2
Terance Mann made dunk
52-76
10:28
+2
Wajid Aminu made layup
54-76
10:13
Wyatt Wilkes missed jump shot
10:11
Defensive rebound by Carter Hendricksen
10:04
Personal foul on Wyatt Wilkes
10:04
+1
Carter Hendricksen made 1st of 2 free throws
55-76
10:04
+1
Carter Hendricksen made 2nd of 2 free throws
56-76
9:56
Personal foul on Brian Coffey II
9:49
Offensive foul on Raiquan Gray
9:49
Turnover on Raiquan Gray
9:40
Noah Horchler missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:40
Offensive rebound by Ezekiel Balogun
9:40
+2
Ezekiel Balogun made layup
58-76
9:16
Wyatt Wilkes missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:14
Defensive rebound by Ezekiel Balogun
8:51
+3
JT Escobar made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Brian Coffey II
61-76
8:31
Trent Forrest missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:29
Defensive rebound by North Florida
8:04
+2
Brian Coffey II made jump shot
63-76
7:42
Personal foul on Brian Coffey II
7:42
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 1st of 2 free throws
63-77
7:42
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 2nd of 2 free throws
63-78
7:24
+3
JT Escobar made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Brian Coffey II
66-78
7:24
Shooting foul on Terance Mann
7:24
+1
JT Escobar made free throw
67-78
7:11
+2
M.J. Walker made layup
67-80
6:54
Ezekiel Balogun missed jump shot
6:52
Offensive rebound by Noah Horchler
6:50
+2
Noah Horchler made layup
69-80
6:24
M.J. Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:22
Offensive rebound by PJ Savoy
6:18
+2
PJ Savoy made layup
69-82
6:11
+2
JT Escobar made jump shot
71-82
5:38
M.J. Walker missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:36
Personal foul on Carter Hendricksen
5:36
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 1st of 2 free throws
71-83
5:19
+1
Mfiondu Kabengele made 2nd of 2 free throws
71-84
5:19
Shooting foul on Terance Mann
5:18
Wajid Aminu missed 1st of 2 free throws
5:18
+1
Wajid Aminu made 2nd of 2 free throws
72-84
4:58
+2
Trent Forrest made layup
72-86
4:52
+2
Noah Horchler made dunk, assist by Brian Coffey II
74-86
4:32
+2
Trent Forrest made layup
74-88
4:18
Brian Coffey II missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:16
Defensive rebound by Mfiondu Kabengele
3:52
+2
Terance Mann made layup
74-90
3:52
Shooting foul on Wajid Aminu
3:52
+1
Terance Mann made free throw
74-91
3:39
+2
JT Escobar made layup
76-91
3:21
Terance Mann missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:19
Defensive rebound by Noah Horchler
3:16
Lost ball turnover on Noah Horchler, stolen by Trent Forrest
3:07
+2
Mfiondu Kabengele made layup, assist by Trent Forrest
76-93
3:05
Personal foul on M.J. Walker
3:05
JT Escobar missed 1st of 2 free throws
3:05
+1
JT Escobar made 2nd of 2 free throws
77-93
2:45
Out of bounds turnover on Terance Mann
2:32
Ryan Burkhardt missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:30
Offensive rebound by Brian Coffey II
2:20
Ezekiel Balogun missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:18
Defensive rebound by Devin Vassell
2:12
Mfiondu Kabengele missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:10
Defensive rebound by Ezekiel Balogun
1:57
+3
Ryan Burkhardt made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Trip Day
80-93
1:38
+3
David Nichols made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Devin Vassell