Northern Kentucky Falls to Florida State in Season Opener, 74-62

by Sean Mackey

The Northern Kentucky University men's basketball team opened their 2024-25 season on the road with a tough 74-62 loss to Florida State at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, Florida. Despite spirited efforts from Josh Dilling and Randall Pettus II, the Norse couldn't overcome the Seminoles, who controlled the game after pulling ahead late in the first half.

Game Recap

Florida State (1-0, 0-0 ACC) led by 12 points at halftime, taking a 43-31 advantage into the break. NKU (0-1, 0-0 Horizon) fought to keep the game close and even held an early lead, up 10-5 at the first media timeout. The two teams traded buckets throughout the first half until a late surge by FSU shifted momentum, allowing the Seminoles to maintain a double-digit lead for much of the second half.

Josh Dilling, making his season debut, was the standout performer for Northern Kentucky, scoring 18 points in 34 minutes. Dilling hit two three-pointers and was perfect from the free-throw line, going 6-for-6. Returning sophomore Randall Pettus II added 12 points and led the team with seven rebounds, demonstrating NKU’s resilience on the boards.

Key Stats

While the Norse were outscored, they showcased grit and teamwork, finishing with 14 assists on their 19 made field goals. NKU also out-rebounded Florida State 35-32, with Trey Robinson and LJ Wells combining for 17 of those boards.

Florida State, however, demonstrated strong control in key areas. The Seminoles forced NKU into a 28% turnover rate in the first half with a high-intensity defense, disrupting the Norse’s offense. FSU struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 1 of 16 three-point attempts outside of a few efforts from their standout, Deng. However, the Seminoles capitalized on inside scoring, shooting 15-20 on non-three-point attempts in the first half alone.

FSU’s Taylor Bol Bowen and Jamir Watkins both contributed 17 points, with Bowen setting a career-high, while the Seminoles showed off their depth with impactful play from both veterans and newcomers.

Looking Ahead

Next up, NKU faces another challenging opponent on Friday night when they travel to West Lafayette, Indiana, to take on #14 Purdue (7pm, ESPN+).