Dulkys’ career-high 19 points leads 21st-ranked Seminoles to an 82-62 win over Panthers

No. 21 Florida St defeats Fla. International 82-62

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Deividas Dulkys scored a career-high 19 points and No. 21 Florida State overcame a slow start and poor first-half shooting to defeat outsized Florida International 82-62 on Sunday.

The taller Seminoles rode a 26-3 run to a 34-17 halftime lead, allowing first-year coach Isiah Thomas’ visiting Panthers only one field goal over the final 11:02 of the half. FIU shot 22.2 percent in the first half and 35.5 percent for the game.

Florida State (7-2) scored the first nine points of the second half to build a 43-17 lead and opened it to 49-19.

Marvin Roberts led FIU (3-8) with 18 points while teammate Marlon Bright added 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Despite the height disadvantage, FIU managed 34 rebounds, one less than Florida State.

Seven-foot-1 sophomore Solomon Alabi added 13 points for the Seminoles, while freshman Michael Snaer had 12.

Dulkys, a 6-4 sophomore from Lithuania, was 5 of 10 from 3-point range for the Seminoles, who shot 60.7 percent in the second half after a chilly 35.7 percent in the first.

Florida State took the lead for good at 18-15 on Dulkys’ 3-pointer with 7:21 left in the half.

Sophomore Luke Loucks had seven assists while handling point guard duties in place of injured Derwin Kitchen, who was nursing a groin strain.

Nine of the 11 players used by Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton in the game scored.

It was Florida State’s first home game in 18 days after a six-game trip that ended with a 77-64 loss at No. 15 Ohio State on Wednesday night in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

The Seminoles break for semester finals and play next against Georgia State on Dec. 15.