ORANGEBURG, S.C. (Jan 21) - The Florida A&M Men’s Basketball team snapped eight-game losing skid as they defeated South Carolina State, 89-77 here Saturday night at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Center.
FAMU (5-14, 2-3 MEAC) was led by Jamie Adams as he scored a game high 28 points. Behind him was Trey Kellum as he recorded a double-double scoring 18 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
SCSU ( 4-14, 0-5) had a trio of Bulldogs to score in double figure as Matthew Hezekiah scored a team high 21 points, followed by Khalif Toombs with 17 and Darryl Palmer with 15.
FAMU grabbed the early 7-5 lead on an Adams three pointer with 17:30 to go in the first. SCSU used back-to-back field goals by Adams and Palmer, gave the Bulldogs a 10-7 lead with 15:45 to go in the first.
An Adams three pointer capped an 8-0 run by FAMU as they took a 15-10 lead with 12:32 to go in the first.
Hezekiah would give SCSU a 16-15 lead on dunk at the 10:38 mark, followed by back-to-back scores by Luka Radovic, giving the Bulldogs a 21-18 lead with 9:30 left in the half.
Adams would tied the contest at 25-25 on a made free thro at the 6:26 mark., sparking an 8-1 run as the Rattlers extended their lead to 33-26 on a D’Andre Bullard jumper with 4:02 left.
FAMU would go into the break leading SCSU 42-35 as they finished the first half shooting 40.5 percent (17-of-42), while the Bulldogs shot 36.7 percent (11-of-30).
In the second half, SCSU would take a 57-56 lead on Palmer putback at the 10:28 mark as they went on a 21-12 run to open up the second half.
The Rattlers regained the lead with a pair of free throws by Markee Teal with 10 minutes left in the game. Hezekiah cut FAMU’s lead to 66-65 on a Hezekiah jumper with 6:50 to go in the contest as that would be closes that the Bulldogs would get as the Rattlers pulled away in the second half. FAMU finished the contest shooting 48.5 percent (32-of-66), while SCSU shot 43.3 percent (26-of-60). The Bulldogs held the rebounding margin over the Rattlers, 46-30.
The Rattlers will return to action on Sat. Jan. 26 as they will host Maryland Eastern Shore at the Al Lawson Center in a 7:30 p.m. Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game.
