Florida State @ Purdue preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 28, 2018 ) Purdue 72, Florida State 73

Florida State lost a disappointing opener at Pittsburgh but has since strung together six consecutive wins, including two against ranked teams. After dispatching No. 16 Tennessee on Friday, the Seminoles will face Purdue in the championship game of the Emerald Coast Classic on Saturday in Niceville, Fla.

Florida State jumped to an early 14-2 lead against the Volunteers and never trailed, although Tennessee pulled within three in the final three minutes. Devin Vassell, who leads the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game, scored 13 points and made a key steal and pair of free throws in the final minute for the Seminoles, who also own a road win over then-No. 6 Florida on Nov. 10. Purdue battled No. 19 VCU for 40 minutes in the other semifinal, surviving 41 percent shooting and 18 turnovers to edge the Rams 59-56. Despite the rough offensive outing, the Boilermakers rank 19th in offensive efficiency (109.7 points per 100 possessions) in the nation despite playing at the third slowest pace in the country.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (6-1): M.J. Walker had 10 points against Tennessee, while point guard Trent Forrest (11.8 points, 4.6 assists), the only returning starter from a year ago, committed eight turnovers, shot just 3-of-11 from the floor and scored nine points. Super freshman Patrick Williams scored eight points on 4-of-6 shooting and is averaging 10.2 points; the 6-8 forward is averaging 12.8 points in his last five games on 61 percent shooting.

ABOUT PURDUE (4-2): Eric Hunter Jr. hit two free throws with 1:36 left in the VCU game to provide Purdue a one-point lead. Jahaad Proctor (15 points per game) and Hunter (10.3) scored 12 each, while Trevion Williams added 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes before fouling out. The Boilermakers are playing their usual stingy defense as well, ranking 12th in defense efficiency (88.0) on the heels of holding opponents to 29.8 percent shooting on 3-pointers and 44 percent on 2-pointers.

TIP-INS

1. Florida State edged Purdue 73-72 in a battle of two Top-15 teams on Nov. 28, 2018, in Tallahassee.

2. The Seminoles, paced by Williams' 17-of-19 shooting from the free-throw line, rank 15th in the country (78.8 percent). They are the fourth-best defensive team in KenPom defensive efficiency (86.2 points per 100 possessions), holding teams to 41 percent on 2-pointers and 29 percent on 3-pointers.

3. Purdue C Matt Haarms needs one block to tie John Allison for fifth on Purdue's all-time blocked shots list with 165.

PREDICTION: Purdue 60, Florida State 57