{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Florida St. 98, Southern Miss 49
When: 7:00 PM ET, Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Where: Donald L. Tucker Center, Tallahassee, Florida
Officials: # Patrick Adams, # Tim Clougherty, # Ted Valentine
Attendance: 5116

Behind a career-high 27 points from sophomore guard P.J. Savoy Jr., Florida State won its fourth straight game Tuesday night by crushing Southern Mississippi 98-49 at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida State forward Jarquez Smith added 14 points for the Seminoles, who are 6-0 at home this season and played without second-leading scorer, forward Jonathan Isaac (hip flexor), for the second straight game. Isaac is averaging 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.

Florida State's win kicked off a busy week for the Seminoles (8-1), who will play twice more, starting Thursday at home against Nicholls State. That will be followed by Florida State's biggest test of the year thus far Sunday against rival No. 21 Florida.

That contest will also be in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles will have played eight of their first 11 games by the end of the week.

Florida State shot 60 percent from field (36 of 60) in Tuesday's rout.

Southern Miss, losers of three straight, came into the game struggling after back-to-back double-digit losses to South Alabama and Jackson State.

The Golden Eagles were led Tuesday by forward Eddie Davis with 17 points and five rebounds. Southern Miss only had one other player in double figures -- guard Cortez Edwards with 11 points.

Guard Quinton Campbell had eight rebounds for the Golden Eagles, who shot 30 percent from the floor and 17 percent from 3-point range.

Florida State, which came in as 25-point favorites, nearly reached that margin at halftime as it took a 48-26 edge to the locker room. The Seminoles shot 55 percent from the floor in the first half, including going 5 of 13 from 3-point range.

They hit nine more from long range in the second half, finishing 14 of 29 from long range, and the Seminoles' lead grew to as many as 51 points.

Florida State's leading scorer, Dwayne Bacon, notched 13 points in the win. Also finishing in double digits was reserve guard Brandon Allen, who added 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor. Guard Trent Forrest paced the Seminoles with nine boards, while fellow guard Terance Mann tossed in seven points and three steals.

As a team, Florida State recorded 14 steals and eight blocks, while forcing 20 Southern Miss turnovers.

Tuesday marked the 25th meeting between the Seminoles and Golden Eagles in a series that dates back to 1951. The two programs played regularly when both were members of the now-defunct Metro Conference from 1983 to 1991, and Florida State is 11-2 all-time against Southern Miss at home.

Florida State, which spent one week ranked in the AP Top 25 poll, was left out again Monday when the new poll was released. But the Seminoles, who got 18 votes for inclusion in the poll, would likely move back in if they cap their week with three straights victories, including Sunday against the No. 21 Gators.

Next up for Southern Miss are two straight home games, beginning Saturday against Tulane, then continuing Dec. 19 at home against in-state rival Mississippi State.
Top Game Performances
 
Southern Miss   Florida St.
Eddie Davis III 17 Scoring PJ Savoy 27
Cortez Edwards 4 Assists Xavier Rathan-Mayes 7
Quinton Campbell 8 Rebounds Trent Forrest 9
Quinton Campbell 3 Free Throws Made PJ Savoy 4
Bilal Abdur-Rahim 1 Steals Terance Mann 3
N/A Blocks Christ Koumadje 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Southern Miss 49 30.2 5-28 6-9 12 26 0 2 20
Florida St. 98 60.0 14-29 12-13 23 34 8 14 14