Florida State dispatches turnover-prone Mizzou in NCAA second-round rout

Xavier had a score to settle with itself. The 6-7 sophomore guard worked on his shooting during the offseason previous year and has developed a better range of shots instead of merely attacking the rim.

Perhaps after Saturday night’s victory the demons from that loss finally have been exorcised.

But as the final buzzer sounded and his No. 3 seed Florida State team left the court of Orlando’s Amway Center with a 91-66 loss to 11th-seeded Xavier, his players were dejected as they walked off the court. Star forward Jonathan Isaac finished with just eight points and 11 rebounds in what may have been his final game for Florida State before declaring for the NBA Draft. They had the Seminoles staggered, but not completely off their feet.

The Seminoles (26-6) have had a special season already, but are focused on the Tigers (22-10), who enter the second round matchup on a bit of a high after a buzzer beating lay-in against No. 11 seed USF on Thursday.

Rathan-Mayes has developed into a solid point guard.

Missouri was lucky to be down only five points at halftime after committing 12 first-half turnovers combined with poor shooting.

Bluiett hit three 3-pointers, and Kaiser Gates added four off the bench. Xavier also got slashing baskets from Bluiett and J.P. Macura during the first 20 minutes.

For the Seminoles, who couldn’t contain Trevon Blueiett (29 points) and failed to get any production outside of Dwayne Bacon (20 points) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (16 points), it’s going to be tough to see the bright side after such a season-ending downer. Florida State led 56-37 after three quarters and scored the first 10 points in the fourth to assure there would be no comeback. Leticia Romero went for 14 points and 6 rebounds and Imani Wright also chipped in 14 points.

After FSU took an early 5-4 lead, Xavier went on a 21-5 run to take a 25-10 lead.

That hefty advantage paced the Seminoles, who are the No. 3 seed in the Stockton (Calif.) regional, to a 77-55 win and the fifth Sweet 16 berth in coach Sue Semrau’s 20 seasons, including three straight.

Truly, the Musketeers blitzed the Seminoles with a balanced attack, with five players finishing with double-digit points. “They earned it”, Xavier coach Chris Mack said from the post-game podium. “There were times I thought they were growing with the relationships, and I think it makes you feel that the future is very bright for these guys that are returning”.

“What hurts me the most, guys like Bacon, Ojo, X and ‘Quez that weren’t able to get here a year ago”.

On Saturday night it was the higher-seeded Seminoles.