Northern Kentucky Norse @ Florida State Seminoles
Watkins and Bol Bowen score 17 apiece, help Florida State pull away early to beat N. Kentucky 74-62
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- — Jamir Watkins and Taylor Bol Bowen scored 17 points apiece and Florida State beat Northern Kentucky 74-62 on Monday night in a season opener.
Watkins hot 8 of 17 from the field with a 3-pointer and grabbed four rebounds. The senior led Florida State last season averaging 15.6 points and six rebounds. Bol Bowen was 5-of-9 shooting and made all seven of his free-throw attempts against Northern Kentucky.
The Seminoles shot 28 of 63 overall (44%) and had 14 assists, with four finishing with at least three.
Josh Dilling scored 18 points to lead Northern Kentucky. Randall Pettus II added 12 points. The pair were a combined 12-of-13 shooting from the free- throw line.
The Seminoles took the lead for good about eight minutes into the game, built a 43-31 halftime advantage and had a double-digit lead the rest of the way. Bol Bowen scored 15 points in the first half and Watkins added a 3-pointer and scored nine points.
It was the first meeting between the teams and the first time the Seminoles have beaten a member of the Horizon League since its 100-71 victory over Detroit Mercy on Nov. 20, 2016.
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Game Information
Tallahassee, FL

Referee:Lee Cassell
Referee:Jeff Pon
Referee:Ben Stirt

2025-26 Standings
| Horizon LeagueHorizon League | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wright State | 8-2 | - | 13-8 |
| Oakland | 8-3 | 0.5 | 12-10 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 7-3 | 1 | 13-8 |
| Green Bay | 7-4 | 1.5 | 12-10 |
| Northern Kentucky | 6-5 | 2.5 | 14-8 |
| Robert Morris | 5-6 | 3.5 | 13-9 |
| Milwaukee | 5-6 | 3.5 | 9-13 |
| Detroit Mercy | 5-6 | 3.5 | 8-12 |
| Cleveland State | 3-7 | 5 | 7-14 |
| Youngstown State | 3-8 | 5.5 | 10-12 |
| IU Indianapolis | 2-9 | 6.5 | 6-16 |
| Atlantic Coast ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 7-0 | - | 18-1 |
| Clemson | 7-1 | 0.5 | 17-4 |
| Virginia | 5-2 | 2 | 16-3 |
| Miami | 5-2 | 2 | 16-4 |
| NC State | 5-2 | 2 | 14-6 |
| North Carolina | 4-3 | 3 | 16-4 |
| Louisville | 4-3 | 3 | 14-5 |
| Virginia Tech | 4-4 | 3.5 | 15-6 |
| SMU | 3-3 | 3.5 | 14-5 |
| Stanford | 3-3 | 3.5 | 14-5 |
| Syracuse | 3-4 | 4 | 12-8 |
| California | 2-4 | 4.5 | 14-5 |
| Boston College | 2-4 | 4.5 | 9-10 |
| Georgia Tech | 2-5 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Wake Forest | 2-5 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Notre Dame | 1-5 | 5.5 | 10-9 |
| Florida State | 1-5 | 5.5 | 8-11 |
| Pittsburgh | 1-6 | 6 | 8-12 |
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