Abaev, Ponder Lead Florida State to 91-68 Home Win

Dominant rebounding coupled with elite free-throw shooting has built early momentum before a matchup with No. 1 Florida.

Overview

Florida State improved to 2-0 under coach Luke Loucks with a 91-68 victory over Troy on Friday in the Tucker Center.
Shon Abaev tied his career high with 20 points and also had seven rebounds and six assists while taking on more ball‑handling duties.
Freshman center Marcis Ponder posted his second straight double‑double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, anchoring FSU’s interior presence.
The Seminoles dominated the glass 46-21 and converted 34 of 39 free throws, a result Loucks traced to practice emphasis on rebounding and foul‑shooting.
A loud student section and depth across the rotation boosted the team’s second‑half surge, and the win sets up Tuesday’s home game against No. 1 Florida as the next key test.