Although both lost, Florida State and Texas A&M performed at opposite ends of the spectrum in their first games against power-conference opponents this season.
The Seminoles (5-1) nearly pulled off a sizable upset at then-10th-ranked rival Florida, falling 78-76 on Nov. 11.
The Aggies (5-2) took a lopsided 87-63 loss to Oklahoma State Nov. 9 and followed it up with an 86-74 home loss to UCF five days later.
The two teams each will look for a resume-boosting win when they face off in the Battle in the Bay Friday in Tampa, Fla.
Texas A&M has won its last three games since that brief skid. Last time out, the Aggies ran away with a 120-84 win over Mississippi Valley State on Tuesday.
After touted transfer addition Mackenzie Mgbako missed the first five games with a foot injury and failed to score in a four-minute debut vs. Manhattan, the forward exploded for a team-high 19 points against the Delta Devils.
It was the type of performance Texas A&M coach Bucky McMillan was hoping to get from Mgbako, who averaged 12.2 points each of the last two seasons at Indiana.
“He’s all about wanting to be out there and help the team,” McMillan said. “Just got to get him caught up on everything that’s going on and get the other guys caught up playing with him.”
Florida State enters off an 89-59 win over Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday. After the Seminoles were 0 for 15 from 3-point range in the first half, they exploded for 54 points after halftime, making 8 of 17 threes and going on a 21-0 run at one point to create separation.
Coach Luke Loucks used this slow start as a message for his team at halftime.
“We have to make shots to win big games, but we can’t let that (hurt) our basketball,” Loucks said. “… There’s a million other things you can do on the court, but if you miss a shot and hang your head, we’re done as a team.”
The Seminoles forced 28 turnovers in the win and are forcing more per game (21.2) than any other Division I team.
Friday’s game should be quite the track meet with both teams in the top 25 nationally in scoring, each averaging more than 93 points per game.
