Lajae Jones scored a career high 36 points as Florida State men’s basketball beat Georgia Southern 98-72 on Friday, Nov. 21 at the Donald L. Tucker Center.
He tied the record for most three pointers made in a game in FSU history, 10, which was set by George McCloud in 1989, who also scored 36 points against La Salle. Jones is only the fourth player in program history to score 36 points, and it’s the most points scored by a Seminole since 2007.
Jones caught fire in the second half, scoring 27 points, including eight three-pointers. He hit a trio of threes in less than 45 seconds in the second half as he helped the Seminoles (4-1) pull away from the Eagles.
He finished the night with 36 points, two assists and a block and three steals. It’s the most points scored by an FSU player since Jamir Watkins’s 30-point game vs. Rice last season.
The second half display from the Seminoles helped erase a poor first half, which featured a stretch of four scoreless minutes of basketball before an 8-0 run to close out the opening period.
Jones had nine points to lead FSU at the break, paired with seven points by Alex Steen.
Despite first-half shooting struggles, the Seminoles forced Georgia Southern to shoot 29% from the field and only score 29 points in the first half.
The Seminoles outscored Georgia Southern 58 to 43 in the second half, thanks in part to the efforts of Jones.
Alongside Jones’s 36-point night, Cam Miles (11 points), Chauncey Wiggins (11 points) and Kobe MaGee (12 points) all finished with double-figures.
FSU shot 49 three pointers, making 17, and shot 44% overall from the field.
What’s next for FSU basketball? A home game vs. Cal State Bakersfield
When: Tuesday, Nov. 25 / 7 p.m.
Where: Donald L. Tucker Center / Tallahassee, Florida
Watch: ACC Network X
Liam Rooney covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at LRooney@gannett.com or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU men’s basketball beats Georgia Southern behind 36 from Lajae Jones
