INDIANAPOLIS — Billings Skyview graduate RayQuan Evans and his Florida State men’s basketball teammates saw their 2020-21 season come to an end Sunday with a 76-58 loss to Michigan in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The fourth-seeded Seminoles struggled offensively all game, making just 40% of their field goal attempts and 25% of their 3-point attempts and turning the ball over 14 times. Michigan, the No. 1 seed in the East Region, built a 32-21 halftime lead behind its stingy defense. The Wolverines pushed the lead to as many as 23 points in the second half as they secured their place in the Elite Eight and a matchup with either UCLA or Alabama on Tuesday.
Brandon Johns Jr. (14 points), Hunter Dickinson (14), Franz Wagner (13) and Chaundee Brown (12) finished in double figures for Michigan, which made 29 of 59 field goal attempts (49.2%) in the game. Wagner added 10 rebounds to finish with a double-double as the Wolverines out-rebounded the Seminoles 37-31. Michigan also had a decided advantage at the free throw line, getting 15 points from the charity stripe compared to five for Florida State.
Malik Osborne had a team-high 12 points to lead the Seminoles on Sunday.
Evans had two points, two rebounds, one assist, one block and four turnovers in what could be his last collegiate basketball game. He’s a senior at Florida State and on pace to graduate this spring, but the 2020-21 season didn’t use a year of eligibility, per an NCAA exemption passed due to the coronavirus pandemic, meaning Evans and any fellow seniors are eligible to return for the 2021-22 season. Evans told MTN Sports in a recent interview he hasn’t yet decided if he will use the extra year of eligibility.
Even with Florida State’s loss, the Elite Eight — and ultimately the Final Four — will still include ties from Montana. Oregon State, coached by former University of Montana player and coach Wayne Tinkle, will play Houston, led by former Montana Tech coach Kelvin Sampson, in the Elite Eight at 5:15 p.m. (MT) Monday.
