'A long time coming' ... FSU, FAMU square off in men's basketball for first time in 34 years

Preseason college basketball exhibitions aren’t often very emotional or meaningful.

The coaches are usually just focused on seeing how their players work together in a game-like situation. And the fans are mostly hoping to get a first glance at their newcomers and to see what type of development has occurred with their veterans.

Sunday’s exhibition between Florida State and Florida A&M was so much more than that.

For FSU head coach Luke Loucks, it was his first chance to coach inside the Tucker Center, where he played point guard from 2008-12. For FAMU head coach Charlie Ward, it was an opportunity to not only return to where he also played college ball, but for his No. 12 jersey to be retired during a pregame ceremony.

And for both head coaches — and the Tallahassee community — it was a chance for Seminoles and Rattlers to come together for a long-awaited return to competition.

The FSU and FAMU men’s basketball teams had not played each other since their 1991 game was marred by a fight that led to numerous ejections and left the Rattlers with so few available players that they had to forfeit the game.

“I was just appreciative of the moment, because this is a long time coming,” Ward said. “But the great part about it was just the city being able to come together — FAMU, FSU — seeing orange and green in the stands as well as the garnet and gold. And so this is definitely a dream come true for me because I was in the last game that we played. And just to be able to also have the jersey retired was another great moment. Just grateful for the opportunity to be in that moment.”

There wasn’t a great deal of drama to the game once Florida State pulled away midway through the first half. The Seminoles led by 40 points at one stretch in the second half, and they ended up cruising to an 88-54 victory.

As much as he wanted to focus on the task at hand, Loucks found himself thinking about the greater significance of the game as well.

“What a cool experience,” he said. “Number one, to coach my first game where I played. But to celebrate Charlie Ward. What an incredible career he had, obviously on the gridiron and on the court here. And for both of us to coach our first time in Tallahassee at the collegiate level I think was pretty special. To hang his jersey where it belongs in the rafters. To celebrate him, to celebrate FAMU and what they’re going to build over there. I just thought it was a really cool experience for coaching my first game in this arena. …

“When the jump ball was happening, I took a second just to look around. I saw my family sitting up there and my kids, my wife, and all their cousins and brothers and sisters. And I took about 30 seconds just to take it in. And then you’ve got a job to do. And went and did our job.”

When it came to the game itself, both teams took turns firing up an array of shots from the perimeter, but Florida State shot a higher percentage; the Seminoles connected on 9 of 32 3-pointers, while the Rattlers hit just 5 of 30.

That and the disparity at the free-throw line, where FSU hit 23 of 28 compared to 7 of 9 for FAMU, were the biggest differences in the game.

Florida State was led by guards Lajae Jones and Robert McCray with 15 points apiece. Kobe Magee added 13 points, and the Seminoles got 11 apiece from guard Cam Miles and forward Chauncey Wiggins.

Senior forward Tyler Shirley led FAMU with a game-high 25 points.

Loucks and Ward both acknowledged that the exhibition was sloppy at times, but they said they are excited to have game film to teach from.

And unlike the game that was played between the two teams 34 years ago, there wasn’t the slightest hint of hostility between the players. The most heated moment of the exhibition might have come from the most unlikely of sources.

Ward, who was known for his stoic demeanor as a player in football and basketball, was whistled for a technical foul after complaining to an official during a timeout.

“I was like, ‘C’mon man. Can you not give me a tech on the night that I get my jersey retired?” Ward said with a laugh during his post-game press conference.

It was perhaps the only blemish on a day that indeed was a long time coming — for Florida State, Florida A&M and the Tallahassee community.

“Obviously not having played this game 30-plus years and what happened the last time we played, a lot of people did not want this game to happen,” Loucks said. “And for right or for wrong, they just thought it would never be played again. I think it’s very unique with myself and the spot I’m in and obviously Charlie at Fam, for us to bring these two programs together. And honestly, this isn’t us against Fam. This isn’t me against Charlie. This is celebrating Tallahassee and how special this town is for basketball.”

Said Ward: “Just seeing a lot of people that I’ve seen over the years, and also of course the community, here in the same building together was just another great moment for both the universities and I think the city as well.”

FIRST REPORT

Five different Seminoles scored in double-figures, and the Florida State men’s basketball team blew open a tight game midway through the first half and rolled to an 88-54 exhibition victory Sunday against Florida A&M.

With the neighboring universities playing against each other for the first time since 1991, the game felt like a community gathering as much as a sporting event. There were plenty of pockets of orange and green in the Tucker Center stands to go with the usual garnet and gold.

But Florida State had too much firepower once the game got into a flow, and the Seminoles led by as many as 40 points in the second half.

FSU was led by guards Lajae Jones and Robert McCray with 15 points apiece. Kobe Magee added 13 points, and the Seminoles got 11 apiece from guard Cam Miles and forward Chauncey Wiggins.

Senior forward Tyler Shirley led FAMU with a game-high 25 points.

Under first-year head coach Luke Loucks, the Seminoles finish exhibition season with a 1-1 record heading into their season opener on Nov. 4 against Alcorn State.

Before the game, FSU officially retired the No. 12 jersey of Seminole great Charlie Ward, who is in his first season as head coach for the Rattlers.

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