No. 17 Florida State, which started 1-4 in Atlantic Coast Conference play this season, won its sixth straight league game Wednesday night, defeating Wake Forest 88-66 in Tallahassee, Fla.
In front of a small weekday crowd, the Seminoles (19-5, 7-4) controlled the game for most of the first half and all of the second half, sending the Demon Deacons (9-14, 2-9) to their sixth loss in the past seven games.
Senior center Christ Koumadje had the best game of his Seminoles career, posting his first career double-double with 20 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks. He left the game to a standing ovation with just over 10 minutes remaining and the Seminoles ahead 63-45.
Seminoles forward Phil Cofer collected 13 points and five boards.
Wake Forest, which was outrebounded 43-27, briefly led late in the first half at 23-18 -- its largest advantage of the game. However, the Seminoles went on a 20-8 run over the final six minutes of the first half to grab a 38-31 lead at halftime.
Koumadje, who didn't score Saturday in Florida State's overtime win against Louisville, nearly had a double-double by halftime. He led all scorers with 12 points and also had eight rebounds.
Florida State pushed the lead to 12 points early in the second half on an alley-oop slam by guard Terance Mann. Florida State's largest lead in the second half was 24 points.
Wake Forest was paced by guard Chaundee Brown with 20 points. Fellow guard Brandon Childress added 11 points.
The game was the first of two late-season meetings between the Seminoles and the Demon Deacons. The rematch will come in both teams' regular-season finale, March 9 in Winston Salem, N.C.
Wake Forest also was one of Florida State's final four home ACC games on the schedule. The Seminoles begin a three-game road trip over 10 days. It starts Saturday at Georgia Tech, continues Tuesday at Clemson and then concludes with a showdown against No. 8 North Carolina on Feb. 23.
Wake Forest, meanwhile, gets the Tar Heels on Saturday at home in its next game.
The Demon Deacons and Seminoles are now tied 26-26 in the all-time series.
--Field Level Media
Wake Forest | Florida State | |
Chaundee Brown 20 | Scoring | Christ Koumadje 20 |
Brandon Childress 4 | Assists | Terance Mann 6 |
Jaylen Hoard 6 | Rebounds | Christ Koumadje 12 |
Chaundee Brown 3 | Free Throws Made | David Nichols 2 |
Chaundee Brown 1 | Steals | David Nichols 2 |
Jaylen Hoard 1 | Blocks | Christ Koumadje 2 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Wake Forest | 66 | 38.6 | 11-25 | 11-17 | 13 | 25 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Florida State | 88 | 56.5 | 10-26 | 8-16 | 21 | 41 | 6 | 7 | 9 |