A tightly contested game would not go Florida State’s way on Sunday as the Seminoles dropped their third straight contest in a 75-69 loss to UMASS in Uncasville, Connecticut.
With starting guard Devon Bookert already out, the Seminoles lost their leading scorer early on as Aaron Thomas was taken to the hospital with an unspecified injury. Thomas had just two points in 15 minutes before exiting.
Florida State held a 35-34 lead at the break, but the Minutemen took a 45-41 lead with a 7-0 run spurred by guard Trey Davis, who had two baskets and an assist during the stretch. UMASS never trailed again.
FSU was able to draw even once, but UMASS always had an answer. For the second time in three games, guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes had a three-point look to tie with under a minute to play, but his potential tying shot on Sunday just missed getting the roll.
In the absence of Thomas and Bookert, Rathan-Mayes led the Seminoles with 22 points and three assists. 7’3″ center Boris Bojanovsky came to life with a career-high 18 points. Freshman Phil Cofer scored eight points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds for the Seminoles in the loss.
UMASS was led by a pair of reserve guards in Jabarie Hinds and Donte Clark, who each scored 15. Center Cady LaLanne pitched in with 14 points to complement a team-high nine rebounds.
The 1-3 start for Florida State is its worst since starting 0-3 during the 2000-01 season. FSU returns home to face The Citadel on Tuesday night. UMASS (4-1) will host Northeastern on Wednesday.
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