HOUSTON – Robert McCray V scored a team-high 16 points and Chauncey Wiggins added 14 in Florida State’s 82-67 loss against No. 7/8 Houston in the Houston Hoops Showdown in the Toyota Center. McCray V, Wiggins, and Lajae Jones finished with double digits in scoring. McCray V finished with a team-high five assists and led the team in assists for the seventh time this season.

Florida State fell to 5-4, and Houston improved to 8-1.

Freshman Thomas Bassong and Sophomore Alier Maluk made their first starts this season for the Seminoles.

Bassong opened the scoring for the Seminoles for the first time this season.

Houston led 15-3 with 16:33 left in the first half. Florida State responded with a 9-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the Cougars’ lead to five, 17-12 at the 12:37 mark.

Florida State trailed by 11, 26-15, with 8:27 left to play in the half. Consecutive 3-point shots by Wiggins and McCray V sparked a quick 6-0 run for the Seminoles and cut the lead down to five, 26-21, with just over seven minutes left to play.

The Seminoles trailed at the half, 41-33, and ended the first half on a 7-2 run.

Florida State scored the first two points of the second half, coming from two made free throws by Bassong.

Houston extended its lead to 15 at 55-40 with 14:14 left in the game. Over the next four minutes, the Seminoles went on a 12-2 run to cut the Houston lead down to five at 57-52, capped by a Jones 3-point shot.

The Seminoles held the Cougars scoreless for three minutes during that run.

Jones finished tonight’s game with 12 points, a team-leading six rebounds, and a team-high two steals.

Kobe MaGee led the Seminoles with three 3-point shots made. All nine of MaGee’s points came from behind the arc.

Florida State returns to action on Saturday, December 13, to take on UMass in the Orange Bowl Classic in Sunrise, Florida.