The Florida A&M men’s basketball team dominated South Carolina State in the Alfred Lawson Center on Monday, posting an 86-69 victory.
FAMU displayed an offensive clinic, shooting 49.3 percent with 32 points in the paint.
Head coach Clemon Johnson was pleased with his team’s performance.
“Tonight’s performance was great, we shared the ball we got layups and we didn’t take as many threes as we had in the past,” Johnson said after the game. “We went to the offensive glass and did just about everything correctly.”
Amin Stevens, the Mid-Easter Athletic Conference’s defensive player of the week, set the tone on defense with three steals and two rebounds in the first half.
“I just try to give it my all every game, and it seems like all of my teammates came with their best today,” Stevens said.
Stevens also secured 12 points in the first half.
The Rattler offense was hot from the perimeter. Reggie Lewis shot three of five three-pointers, two in the first half. Jeremy Dean helped offensively with 13 points in the first half.
The Bulldogs shot 46.2 percent in the first half, but still fell behind.
The Rattlers entered halftime with a 44-32 lead.
The team continued its pace in the second half by dominating the Bulldogs with its bench, which scored 21 points. Nathaniel Drayton scored six points, while Lewis had two game-sealing, three-pointers.
The lead grew even wider as Stevens and Dean continued their strong performances.
Stevens finished the game with 17 points, 12 rebounds and five steals.
“We realized we still have a chance to be top in the league and be conference champions,” Stevens said.
Lewis said coach Clemons wanted the team to be aggressive and not to settle for threes. Aggression showed through its style of play.
“I think we played a great team game. We made the extra passes and that allowed everyone to get involved throughout the course of the game,” said Lewis, who finished the game with 16 points and two steals.
The Rattlers will return to action Saturday, as the team faces Maryland Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, Md.