Rising Florida State powers past slumping Pitt

Jamir Watkins dealt with foul trouble in the second half yet still scored 26 points to lead Florida State to a 82-70 victory over Pitt on Wednesday at Tallahassee, Fla.

Malique Ewin added 18 points and 13 rebounds as the Seminoles (12-5, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) won their third game in their past four.

Jaland Lowe scored 22 points and had five assists, but it wasn't enough to keep the Panthers (12-5, 3-3) from dropping their third consecutive game.

Watkins sat out most of the early portion of the second half and picked up his fourth foul with 10:46 left. He returned with 6:55 to go and managed to avoid fouling out while going a clutch 11-for-12 from the free-throw line.

The Seminoles did a solid job defending against Lowe, holding him to two points in the first half. Lowe turned the ball over six times in the first 20 minutes and eight times overall.

Florida State has been hurt by 3-point shooting all season and that continued against Pitt. Despite the Panthers not being one of the better long-distance shooting teams in the ACC, they shot 8-for-21 from beyond the arc on Wednesday, which gave them a chance for a comeback win. Florida State went 6-for-19 form long range.

Jorge Diaz Graham's 3-pointer with 2:26 left trimmed the Seminoles' lead to 68-62 after the margin topped out at 16 earlier in the half.

But led by Watkins, the Seminoles picked up key offensive rebounds down the stretch and earned trips to the foul line to pull away.

Diaz Graham finished with 17 points and went 4-for-5 from 3-point range. Teammate Ishmael Leggett had 13 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Chandler Jackson totaled 13 points and four assists for Florida State and was also sharp at the free throw line, making 7 of 8 shots.

Seminoles forward AJ Swinton sustained a right lower leg injury in the first half and did not return after playing only four minutes.

After the final whistle, players from both sides exchanged words as they left the court and had to be separated.

--Field Level Media