Exhibition games might not count in the standings. But in the big picture, the first impressions and experience were significant for the Florida State men’s basketball team.

Marcis Ponder scored 13 points and pulled down an astounding 21 rebounds as the Seminoles defeated Auburn 82-71 in the Ballin In Boutwell game at Birmingham. Ponder, a 7-foot and 285-pound freshman, had 12 offensive rebounds and three blocks in 25 minutes.

“It was incredible. We’ve seen it in practice,” FSU coach Luke Loucks said on the postgame radio show. “Just the way he can eat up space on the glass. That alone is a game-changer for us.”

Trailing 37-32 at the half, the Seminoles turned it up in the final 20 minutes. FSU outscored Auburn 50-34.

The Tigers missed out on the NCAA Tournament last March but made a run to the NIT title. Tahaad Pettiford had 20 points for Auburn.

Kam Taylor scored 14 of his 19 points in the second half, knocking down 10 of 10 free-throw attempts. FSU won the game by getting to the line and making free-throws, 34 of 40 (85 percent) on the night.

It wasn’t a great shooting night for either team. FSU shot 21 of 63 (33.3 percent) from the floor and just 6 of 19 from deep, with no Seminole making more than a single shot from beyond the arc.

Shon Abaev had 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting with eight rebounds.

Sebastian Rancik struggled (shooting 1 of 9 from the floor) but he went 10 of 11 from the free-throw line and had 14 points, including 11 in the second half.

FSU started Abaev, Taylor, Rancik, Ponder and Anthony Robinson II (who had seven points and an assist).

Coming up

The Seminoles will play host to LSU in an exhibition on Oct. 24 at 1 p.m. (ACC Network Extra).

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