Sophomore Terance Mann's role continues to grow for ACC-leading 'Noles

Seven days into the New Year, Terance Mann was told to shoot more. He did and scored a career-high 22 points in the Florida State men's basketball team's 93-78 victory against Virginia Tech.

Eleven days later, Mann didn't score at all and only took two shots in an 83-80 victory against No. 15 Notre Dame.

Going through such extremes only made Saturday more interesting. Mann's latest performance was reflective of his season to this point. When the No. 10 Seminoles (18-2, 6-1 ACC) needed a shot or a defensive stop, Mann found a way to make something happen.

It's how he finished with 15 points and two blocked shots in 29 minutes in No. 10 FSU's 73-68 win over No. 12 Louisville at the Tucker Center -- a victory that kept the Seminoles in a tie for first place in the ACC.

"I just thought I didn't have a good game last time," Mann said. "And I just thought I would bring a lot of energy this time and help my teammates in any way I can this time."

Mann's contributions were consistent. He scored to help the Seminoles open the game with a 14-0 run, and he finished the first half with eight points.

Neither the Cardinals nor Seminoles shot well in the second half. FSU went 10 of 25 for 40 percent from the floor in that period, and Mann was responsible for three of those baskets.

Louisville was 12 of 32 from the field for 37.5 percent. Mann played all but three minutes in the half, and his defense was a factor in why the Cardinals only scored two field goals in the game's final six minutes and 14 seconds.

"Terance responded really well," Seminoles coach Leonard Hamilton said. "Thought we had some opportunities to drive, and he was a little more aggressive than he was in the first half. I'm not surprised at all.

"We're trying to make sure our players understand that the nature of our league will be that there will be somebody different that needs to step up every night."