GATECH

FSU

Barnes leads No. 15 FSU over Ga Tech 74-61 in ACC opener

AP
Dec 16, 2020

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Florida State Seminoles dropped its ACC opener the last three seasons. This time, the defending league champs got the conference schedule started off right.

Freshman guard Scottie Barnes scored 14 of his 16 points after halftime and the 15th-ranked Seminoles pulled away midway through the second half to beat Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 74-61 on Tuesday night.

''Scottie Barnes, he'll be the next lottery pick coming out of Florida State,'' Georgia Tech coach Josh Pastner said. ''He made some big plays.''

Barnes also grabbed six rebounds and had plenty of help as four other Seminoles scored in double figures.

Florida State lost at Pittsburgh last season in its first Atlantic Coast Conference game and previously fell to Duke in the 2017-18 opener and Virginia in 2018-19 to begin league play.

''This is a very important victory for us,'' coach Leonard Hamilton said. ''The last couple of years we've lost our first ACC game. So, we've gotten off to a pretty good start. We're a team that's still learning, still growing. We're not as smooth as we need to be. To be 4-0 this time of year, we'll take it and we're pleased with where we are.''

Florida State (4-0, 1-0) is in good shape in large part because of Barnes, a newcomer who has brought energy and confidence, as well as a deep group of veterans. M.J. Walker scored 14 points and Balsa Koprivica added 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Seminoles won for the 27th straight time in Tallahassee, including all four games to open the 2020-21 season.

Michael Devoe had 21 points, while Jordan Usher and Moses Wright added 12 apiece for Georgia Tech (2-3, 0-1). The Yellow Jackets used a 15-0 run to get back into the game in the second half, but the Seminoles never relinquished their lead.

The Yellow Jackets went 22 of 51 (43%) from the floor but just 5 of 20 (25%) on 3s.

''We gave ourselves a chance to win,'' Pastner said. ''In the end it just came down to they made some 3s and we didn't. There was a stretch there in the second half we had three great looks from 3. We missed them all. Great looks. That was the difference in the game.''

The Seminoles shot 27 of 51 (53%) from the floor and 8 for 17 (47%) from 3-point range.

Florida State has won 15 of the last 17 meetings in the series.

BENCH LIFT

Wyatt Wilkes scored 11 points, making all three of his 3-pointers, to give the Seminoles a boost off the bench. Florida State had 20 bench points.

''I think we're really deep,'' Barnes said. ''We have a lot of guys that can bring instant offense. We have shooters everywhere on the floor.''

BIG PICTURE

Georgia Tech: Wright, who was averaging 21 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, was held to five points until midway through the second half. He finished with five rebounds.

Florida State: The Seminoles have gone 31-9 in their last 40 regular-season ACC games, including a 16-4 mark in 2019-20 en route to the league title.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Florida State just vaulted from No. 20 to No. 15 this week and could make an argument to move up even more with a win over UCF on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Georgia Tech: Home against Florida A&M on Friday.

Florida State: Will host UCF on Saturday.

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More AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25

1st Half
GT
Yellow Jackets
29
FSU
Seminoles
36

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Moses Wright vs. Balsa Koprivica (Anthony Polite gains possession)
19:41	+2	Balsa Koprivica makes two point layup (Raiquan Gray assists)	0-2
19:15	+2	Jose Alvarado makes two point layup	2-2
18:58		Scottie Barnes offensive foul (Jordan Usher draws the foul)
18:58		Scottie Barnes turnover
18:55		Jordan Usher turnover (bad pass) (Scottie Barnes steals)
18:49		Scottie Barnes misses three point jump shot
18:47		Balsa Koprivica offensive rebound
18:46		Bubba Parham personal foul (Balsa Koprivica draws the foul)
18:34		Jordan Usher blocks Raiquan Gray's two point layup
18:32		Yellow Jackets defensive rebound
18:10		Jordan Usher turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Polite steals)
17:57		Balsa Koprivica turnover (traveling)
17:41	+3	Jordan Usher makes three point jump shot (Bubba Parham assists)	5-2
17:15		Raiquan Gray misses three point jump shot
17:13		Michael Devoe defensive rebound
17:04		Jordan Usher misses three point jump shot
17:02		Scottie Barnes defensive rebound
16:55		Balsa Koprivica turnover (3-second violation)
16:38		Michael Devoe turnover (bad pass) (M.J. Walker steals)
16:12	+2	Scottie Barnes makes two point layup	5-4
16:12		Michael Devoe shooting foul (Scottie Barnes draws the foul)
16:12		Scottie Barnes misses regular free throw 1 of 1
16:12		Raiquan Gray offensive rebound
16:08		Raiquan Gray turnover (lost ball) (Bubba Parham steals)
16:00		Bubba Parham misses three point jump shot
15:58		Balsa Koprivica defensive rebound
15:54		Scottie Barnes turnover (bad pass)
15:54		TV timeout
15:43		Jose Alvarado turnover (10-second violation)
15:36	+3	Anthony Polite makes three point jump shot (Balsa Koprivica assists)	5-7
15:15		Michael Devoe misses three point jump shot
15:13		Raiquan Gray defensive rebound
14:52		Jump ball. Balsa Koprivica vs. Moses Wright (Seminoles gains possession)
14:44		M.J. Walker misses two point jump shot
14:42		Bubba Parham defensive rebound
14:37		Jose Alvarado turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Polite steals)
14:27	+3	Nathanael Jack makes three point jump shot (Anthony Polite assists)	5-10
14:14		Malik Osborne personal foul (Moses Wright draws the foul)
13:53		Yellow Jackets turnover (shot clock violation)
13:37		Jump ball. Malik Osborne vs. Khalid Moore (Yellow Jackets gains possession)
13:37		Malik Osborne turnover (lost ball) (Khalid Moore steals)
13:22		Nathanael Jack shooting foul (Michael Devoe draws the foul)
13:22	+1	Michael Devoe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-10
13:07		Nathanael Jack misses three point jump shot
13:05		M.J. Walker offensive rebound
13:00	+3	Wyatt Wilkes makes three point jump shot (Raiquan Gray assists)	6-13
12:51		Raiquan Gray personal foul (Moses Wright draws the foul)
12:43	+2	Khalid Moore makes two point layup	8-13
12:28	+2	Sardaar Calhoun makes two point jump shot	8-15
12:03		Khalid Moore misses two point layup
12:01		Malik Osborne defensive rebound
11:55	+3	Wyatt Wilkes makes three point jump shot (Sardaar Calhoun assists)	8-18
11:51		Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
11:51		TV timeout
11:42	+2	Kyle Sturdivant makes two point layup	10-18
11:19		Wyatt Wilkes misses two point layup
11:17		Wyatt Wilkes offensive rebound
11:13		Moses Wright blocks Wyatt Wilkes's two point layup
11:11		Khalid Moore defensive rebound
11:08		Official timeout
10:58		Moses Wright misses two point jump shot
10:56		Yellow Jackets offensive rebound
10:42		Michael Devoe turnover (traveling)
10:31		Sardaar Calhoun turnover (lost ball) (Jose Alvarado steals)
10:17		Kyle Sturdivant misses three point jump shot
10:15		Sardaar Calhoun defensive rebound
10:09		Sardaar Calhoun misses two point jump shot
10:07		Khalid Moore defensive rebound
9:53	+2	Jordan Usher makes two point jump shot	12-18
9:29	+2	Malik Osborne makes two point jump shot	12-20
9:04	+2	Khalid Moore makes two point layup (Jordan Usher assists)	14-20
8:46		M.J. Walker misses three point jump shot
8:44		Kyle Sturdivant defensive rebound
8:37	+3	Jordan Usher makes three point jump shot (Khalid Moore assists)	17-20
8:21		Anthony Polite misses two point jump shot
8:19		Bubba Parham defensive rebound
8:11		Khalid Moore misses three point jump shot
8:09		Scottie Barnes defensive rebound
7:56		Kyle Sturdivant personal foul (Anthony Polite draws the foul)
7:56		TV timeout
7:36		Scottie Barnes misses three point jump shot
7:34		Seminoles offensive rebound
7:33		Seminoles turnover (shot clock violation)
7:13		Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot
7:11		M.J. Walker defensive rebound
7:02		Balsa Koprivica misses two point layup
7:00		Khalid Moore defensive rebound
6:51	+2	Jordan Usher makes two point jump shot (Khalid Moore assists)	19-20
6:35		Jordan Usher personal foul (Balsa Koprivica draws the foul)
6:25	+2	Raiquan Gray makes two point layup (Balsa Koprivica assists)	19-22
5:59		Bubba Parham misses three point jump shot
5:57		Balsa Koprivica defensive rebound
5:48		Scottie Barnes misses two point jump shot
5:46		Jose Alvarado defensive rebound
5:38		Kyle Sturdivant turnover (bad pass)
5:19		Anthony Polite offensive foul (Jose Alvarado draws the foul)
5:19		Anthony Polite turnover
5:00	+3	Michael Devoe makes three point jump shot (Jordan Usher assists)	22-22
4:47	+2	Balsa Koprivica makes two point layup	22-24
4:16		Raiquan Gray shooting foul (Moses Wright draws the foul)
4:16		Moses Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2
4:16	+1	Moses Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	23-24
4:08		Kyle Sturdivant personal foul (M.J. Walker draws the foul)
3:53	+3	Anthony Polite makes three point jump shot (Wyatt Wilkes assists)	23-27
3:32		Bubba Parham turnover (bad pass)
3:32		TV timeout
3:09	+3	Wyatt Wilkes makes three point jump shot (M.J. Walker assists)	23-30
2:40		Jordan Usher misses two point jump shot
2:38		Balsa Koprivica defensive rebound
2:29	+2	Balsa Koprivica makes two point dunk (Malik Osborne assists)	23-32
2:03	+2	Michael Devoe makes two point jump shot	25-32
1:35		Michael Devoe personal foul (Balsa Koprivica draws the foul)
1:17	+2	M.J. Walker makes two point layup	25-34
1:03	+2	Michael Devoe makes two point layup	27-34
0:45	+2	Wyatt Wilkes makes two point jump shot	27-36
0:28	+2	Michael Devoe makes two point layup (Jordan Usher assists)	29-36
0:18		Seminoles 30 second timeout
0:02		Raiquan Gray misses two point jump shot
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
GT
Yellow Jackets
32
FSU
Seminoles
38

Time		Play	Score
19:41		Raiquan Gray turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Usher steals)
19:24		Jordan Usher misses three point jump shot
19:22		Raiquan Gray defensive rebound
19:08	+2	Scottie Barnes makes two point jump shot	29-38
18:33		Michael Devoe turnover (lost ball) (Anthony Polite steals)
18:20		Moses Wright shooting foul (Balsa Koprivica draws the foul)
18:20		Balsa Koprivica misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:20		Balsa Koprivica misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:20		Jordan Usher defensive rebound
18:13	+2	Michael Devoe makes two point jump shot	31-38
18:03		Scottie Barnes turnover (lost ball) (Moses Wright steals)
17:39		Moses Wright misses two point dunk
17:37		Anthony Polite defensive rebound
17:17	+2	Anthony Polite makes two point dunk (Balsa Koprivica assists)	31-40
16:55	+2	Michael Devoe makes two point jump shot	33-40
16:34		Jordan Usher shooting foul (Scottie Barnes draws the foul)
16:34	+1	Scottie Barnes makes regular free throw 1 of 2	33-41
16:34	+1	Scottie Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-42
16:22		Khalid Moore misses three point jump shot
16:20		Balsa Koprivica defensive rebound
16:11	+3	M.J. Walker makes three point jump shot (Anthony Polite assists)	33-45
16:09		Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
16:09		TV timeout
15:57		Scottie Barnes personal foul (Michael Devoe draws the foul)
15:57		TV timeout
15:39		M.J. Walker shooting foul (Moses Wright draws the foul)
15:39	+1	Moses Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2	34-45
15:39	+1	Moses Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-45
15:19		M.J. Walker misses two point jump shot
15:17		Khalid Moore defensive rebound
15:04		Jordan Usher turnover (bad pass) (Scottie Barnes steals)
14:59	+2	Scottie Barnes makes two point dunk	35-47
14:46		Moses Wright offensive foul
14:46		Moses Wright turnover
14:33		Quincy Ballard offensive foul (Bubba Parham draws the foul)
14:33		Quincy Ballard turnover
14:14		Jose Alvarado misses three point jump shot
14:12		M.J. Walker defensive rebound
14:11		Moses Wright personal foul (M.J. Walker draws the foul)
13:45		M.J. Walker misses two point jump shot
13:43		Quincy Ballard offensive rebound
13:39	+2	Quincy Ballard makes two point layup	35-49
13:31		Michael Devoe misses three point jump shot
13:29		Scottie Barnes defensive rebound
12:59	+2	Anthony Polite makes two point jump shot	35-51
12:34		Malik Osborne personal foul (Michael Devoe draws the foul)
12:18	+2	Moses Wright makes two point hook shot (Jose Alvarado assists)	37-51
12:00		Wyatt Wilkes misses two point jump shot
11:58		Michael Devoe defensive rebound
11:53		Kyle Sturdivant misses two point layup
11:51		Michael Devoe offensive rebound
11:51		Wyatt Wilkes blocks Michael Devoe's two point layup
11:49		Yellow Jackets offensive rebound
11:51		TV timeout
11:47	+3	Jose Alvarado makes three point jump shot (Kyle Sturdivant assists)	40-51
11:31		Malik Osborne misses two point jump shot
11:29		Yellow Jackets defensive rebound
11:12	+2	Jose Alvarado makes two point layup (Kyle Sturdivant assists)	42-51
10:59		Malik Osborne misses two point layup
10:57		Michael Devoe defensive rebound
10:51	+3	Michael Devoe makes three point jump shot (Khalid Moore assists)	45-51
10:32		M.J. Walker misses three point jump shot
10:30		Khalid Moore defensive rebound
10:13	+2	Kyle Sturdivant makes two point layup	47-51
10:13		Malik Osborne shooting foul (Kyle Sturdivant draws the foul)
10:13	+1	Kyle Sturdivant makes regular free throw 1 of 1	48-51
10:01		M.J. Walker turnover (bad pass) (Jose Alvarado steals)
9:58		Wyatt Wilkes shooting foul (Moses Wright draws the foul)
9:58		Seminoles 30 second timeout
9:58	+1	Moses Wright makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-51
9:58	+1	Moses Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	50-51
9:37		Jose Alvarado personal foul (M.J. Walker draws the foul)
9:16	+2	Scottie Barnes makes two point dunk	50-53
9:00		Kyle Sturdivant misses two point layup
8:58		Moses Wright offensive rebound
8:55	+2	Moses Wright makes two point dunk	52-53
8:37	+2	Scottie Barnes makes two point jump shot	52-55
8:11		Michael Devoe misses three point jump shot
8:09		M.J. Walker defensive rebound
7:52		Moses Wright shooting foul (Balsa Koprivica draws the foul)
7:52		TV timeout
7:52	+1	Balsa Koprivica makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-56
7:52	+1	Balsa Koprivica makes regular free throw 2 of 2	52-57
7:24		Raiquan Gray shooting foul (Moses Wright draws the foul)
7:24		Moses Wright misses regular free throw 1 of 2
7:24	+1	Moses Wright makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-57
7:11		Jose Alvarado shooting foul (Scottie Barnes draws the foul)
7:11	+1	Scottie Barnes makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-58
7:11	+1	Scottie Barnes makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-59
6:48		Michael Devoe misses two point jump shot
6:46		Raiquan Gray defensive rebound
6:32		Jose Alvarado personal foul (Scottie Barnes draws the foul)
6:32		Scottie Barnes misses regular free throw 1 of 1
6:32		Khalid Moore defensive rebound
6:06		Michael Devoe misses three point jump shot
6:04		Balsa Koprivica defensive rebound
5:41	+3	M.J. Walker makes three point jump shot (Scottie Barnes assists)	53-62
5:06		Khalid Moore misses three point jump shot
5:04		Moses Wright offensive rebound
4:51		Moses Wright misses three point jump shot
4:49		Scottie Barnes defensive rebound
4:22		Anthony Polite misses three point jump shot
4:20		Yellow Jackets defensive rebound
4:18		Scottie Barnes personal foul (Michael Devoe draws the foul)
4:18	+1	Michael Devoe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-62
4:18	+1	Michael Devoe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	55-62
4:18		Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
4:18		TV timeout
4:00		M.J. Walker turnover (lost ball) (Jordan Usher steals)
3:55		Khalid Moore misses two point layup
3:53		Jordan Usher offensive rebound
3:47		Jordan Usher misses two point tip shot
3:45		Balsa Koprivica defensive rebound
3:37		Anthony Polite misses three point jump shot
3:35		Raiquan Gray offensive rebound
3:29		Raiquan Gray misses two point layup
3:29		Balsa Koprivica offensive rebound
3:29	+2	Balsa Koprivica makes two point layup	55-64
3:01	+2	Moses Wright makes two point layup (Khalid Moore assists)	57-64
2:42	+2	Scottie Barnes makes two point hook shot	57-66
2:23		Raiquan Gray shooting foul (Michael Devoe draws the foul)
2:23	+1	Michael Devoe makes regular free throw 1 of 2	58-66
2:23	+1	Michael Devoe makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-66
2:23	+2	M.J. Walker makes two point layup (Anthony Polite assists)	59-68
2:23		Michael Devoe misses two point jump shot
2:21		Raiquan Gray defensive rebound
1:36		Moses Wright personal foul (Raiquan Gray draws the foul)
1:36	+1	Raiquan Gray makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-69
1:36	+1	Raiquan Gray makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-70
1:12		Jose Alvarado misses two point jump shot
1:10		Scottie Barnes defensive rebound
0:40		Scottie Barnes misses three point jump shot
0:38		Jordan Usher defensive rebound
0:34	+2	Jordan Usher makes two point dunk	61-70
0:33		Yellow Jackets 30 second timeout
0:26		Saba Gigiberia personal foul (M.J. Walker draws the foul)
0:26	+1	M.J. Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-71
0:26	+1	M.J. Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-72
0:20		Jose Alvarado misses two point jump shot
0:18		Seminoles defensive rebound
0:18		Jordan Usher personal foul (M.J. Walker draws the foul)
0:18	+1	M.J. Walker makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-73
0:18	+1	M.J. Walker makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-74
0:09		Michael Devoe misses two point jump shot
0:07		Scottie Barnes defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Scottie Barnes defensive rebound