Defeating the Howard Bison in a 72-67 overtime victory on Saturday night, the Florida A&M men’s basketball team captured its fifth home win of the season.
This victory gives the Rattlers’ a 5-5 home record, placing them at .500 for the season at the Al Lawson Center.
The Rattlers showed that they could shoot the ball more effectively on their home court, compared to a 2-12 record on the road.
The road has been a long one for the Rattlers this season, as they have lost six of their last eight away games.
During their last five home contests, the Rattlers’ have shot more than 41 percent from the field. Currently, the Rattlers do not have a player averaging double figures.
However, during the previous five home games the Rattlers have had a guard score in double figures.
Senior guard Brandon Bryant thinks that his team has an advantage on their home court and should take advantage of the opportunity as the Mid-Atlantic Conference Championship tournament nears.
“Playing at home is really big for our team because now we’re coming into March and I think we have a different mindset,” Bryant said.
“We went on the road and we slipped, so we’re so anxious to get back home. Coming back home was really big for our team.”
Point Guard Rasheem Jenkins is also impressed with how his team executes on their home court and he wants his squad to step up to the challenge during this crucial part of the season.
“I just feel like around this time of year, we have to play our best basketball,” Jenkins said.
“I felt that we had to get this win at home. We had a very large crowd and that helped us a lot.”
Guard Brandon Bryant said he thinks that their young team can compete with anyone in the MEAC.
“We’re really young and we’re good, I think we can beat any team In the MEAC, Bryant said.
“But now we have the right attitude late in the season and I feel like we’re playing our best ball.”
Head Coach Eugene Harris stated after Saturday’s win that the Rattlers’ were going to build off of this win.
“It was a team victory,” Harris said. “We’re going to take these games out one at a time and see what happens.”
Coach Harris said that he thinks his team can carry this momentum into tournament play.
“We’re looking to build some consistency with our basketball team going into the conference tournament,” Harris said.
Monday night their level of intensity will be put to the test as they tip-off at 7:30 p.m. against the Hampton University Pirates.