Northern Kentucky University's men's basketball team began their 2024-25 season with a match against Florida State in Tallahassee. Despite strong performances from key players, the Norse were defeated by the Seminoles.

The final score was Northern Kentucky 62, Florida State 74. This game took place at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee, marking NKU's first loss of the season with a record of 0-1.

Josh Dilling emerged as NKU's leading scorer, achieving 18 points during his debut game. Dilling successfully made two three-point shots and converted all six of his free throw attempts. Sophomore Randall Pettus II also scored in double figures with 12 points and contributed seven rebounds.

Sam Vinson added seven points and two rebounds to the team's efforts. Trey Robinson and LJ Wells combined for a total of 17 rebounds, helping NKU out-rebound Florida State by a margin of 35-32. The team managed to register 14 assists on their 19 successful field goals.

In the game's progression, NKU initially took an early lead with a score of 10-5 but faced challenges as Florida State gained momentum before halftime. Although Northern Kentucky narrowed the gap to ten points in the second half, they could not secure a victory.

Looking ahead, Northern Kentucky will face another challenging opponent when they play against Purdue on Friday night at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Indiana.