The Florida State men’s basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a dominating 113-69 win over Florida A&M on Monday in the Orion180 Tip-Off Classic at Benchmark International Arena.
Six Seminoles scored in double figures against the Rattlers. Sebastian Rancik led the squad with a career-high 25 points, while senior Anthony Robinson II added 16 points with eight rebounds, and four assists for the Seminoles.
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The Seminoles outscored the Rattlers 62-22 in the paint and outrebounded them 47-30 to assert their dominance.
FSU freshman Marcis Ponder scored four points to highlight a 10-0 run to start the game in the Seminoles’ favor. Ponder finished the game with his first-career double-double, scoring 15 points with 11 rebounds.
The Seminoles never trailed in the game. Rancik scored 14 of his 25 points in the first half as the Seminoles went into halftime leading 54-27. Robinson II scored 11 of his 16 points during the second half to lead the Seminoles.
Florida State will host Troy in the 2026 home opener on Friday.
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The Florida State women’s basketball team opened the season with a dominating 81-51 home win over Merrimack College on Monday.
It was the first meeting between the two schools. The Seminoles improved to 46-9 all-time in season openers, including an 11-game winning streak.
Five Florida State players finished with over 10 points scored. Freshman guard Morgan Stewart led the Seminoles with 13 points including four steals, three assists and three rebounds. Tatum Greene and Sole Williams each scored 11 points, while Missy Odomand and Timaya Lewis-Eutsey each added 10 points.
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The Seminoles shot 43 percent from the field (34-of-79), including nine three-point baskets. The defense caused 34 turnovers, which led to 45 points for Florida State on offense.
The Seminoles barely led 16-15 in a competitive first quarter. FSU broke away with a 15-0 run in the final four minutes of the second quarter to go into halftime leading 38-19 after shooting 43.2 percent from the field.
Williams scored nine in the final 3:38 of the third quarter to highlight a 22-2 Seminoles run in the last six minutes to increase their lead to 67-28 after the third quarter.
Florida State will host North Florida on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m.
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Florida State senior Tanner Strickland was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday.
Strickland earned the honor for the first time in her career. She joins fellow senior Grace Hoytink and goalkeeper Kate Ockene, who was recognized twice.
Strickland helped the Seminoles defeat No. 5 Duke and rival Miami this past weekend. The Seminoles have won five of their last six games and has lost only once in their last 10 matches.
The Seminoles will take on Virginia Tech on Thursday in the regular season finale at home in Tallahassee.
