Florida State and Florida each entered the game 3-0, with the Seminoles wanting to prove their defense was legit while the Gators wanted to prove they were one of the best teams in the country. The Gators were the more talented team, but FSU is a scrappy group and anything can happen in a rivalry.

Both teams were struggling early in this game, but Florida quickly killed that slow start, hitting 7/15 from deep in the first half. Walter Clayton Jr. gave FSU fans flashbacks to Duke Jared McCain last season. The defense that had been so solid for the Seminoles early in the season was starting to show some flaws by not matching up in transition and lacking communication on the perimeter. They were forcing turnovers at a high rate, but when Florida threw a shot, it usually went in.

Jamir Watkins missed his first four free throws, continuing a trend since the start of the season, and part of the reason FSU was down 44-31 at halftime. The other was that the offense would become ice cold if Watkins didn’t initiate the action. After starting the game 2/2 from three, the Seminoles made just one of their next seven attempts from deep, when it seemed like the Gators couldn’t miss.

FSU’s defense played a little better in the second half, but they could never get close enough to worry the Gators. They had a chance to cut the lead to five or six with about 12 minutes left with some good looks, but they missed and Florida extended the lead to double digits.

And that’s how the rest of the second half went. Florida State would push it back to eight or nine, and UF would push it back up to 12 or 13. That was until the last four minutes of the game.

FSU eventually overcame that eight-point lead bump by cutting it to six with a Jamir Watkins layup, then Daquan Davis hit a layup on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to four with 2 :21 to go, the closest match. This was the case from the first half.

Florida would make two free throws and Malique Ewin would miss a shot to keep the lead at six, Alijah Martin would sink a three (after the shot clock expired, but Teddy Valentine is a blind referee), then Walter Clayton Jr. would hit three more to extend the lead to 12, and that would be all she wrote.

The Seminoles showed much better fight and effort in the second half, but it ultimately wouldn’t be enough, as they would fall to the Gators 85-73.

Jamir Watkins had 19 points but would be behind Florida’s Walter Clayton Jr., who had 25.

Here are three takeaways from Friday’s loss.

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We’ve seen some teams in recent years give up when the going gets tough, but this team stayed there until the very end. If it hadn’t been for Alijah Martin’s three conceded after the clock expired, who knows how the final minute and change would have gone? But this is a group willing to work for everything they get, and this is a team worth watching.

Justin Thomas kept the Seminoles afloat, Jamir Watkins was (mostly) Jamir Watkins and Daquan Davis showed flashes of what he could be as a college point guard. But it can be difficult at times to watch this team try to score. Malique Ewin, a center, was just 4/13 from the floor. He’s got all the talent in the world but he’s always lacking just at the edge. Coach Hamilton and his staff will need to find ways to make the offense easier for this group.

Todd Golden said he would be worried if his team turned the ball over 12 times in this game. They turned it over NINETEENT times. And I still managed the game. Florida State needs to address some of its communication issues because it will be able to force turnovers with the best of them.

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