FAMU prepares for Allen University

The Florida A&M men’s basketball team will play the Allen University Yellow Jackets on Saturday night.

The Rattlers are on a two-game winning streak, and this will be their last home game before a five-game road trip.

FAMU is undefeated at home this season, primarily due to its shooting. The team has shot 50 percent at home, and five players scored in double figures last game against Edward Waters College.

Jamie Adams said playing at home makes him want to put on a show for the fans. Adams is averaging 21 points and seven assists per game at home, but hopes to limit his turnovers.

“I hope to have less than two turnovers next game,” Adams said.

Head coach Clemon Johnson wants the team to keep showing intensity on defense – the same intensity the Rattlers used to force 17 turnovers a game during their current streak. Johnson said the team has shown more effort on defense as of late.

Trey Kellum, a forward and first-year business accounting student from Peoria, Ill., has gotten more playing time during this two-game home stand. Kellum has given the team a spark off the bench.

“I mainly focus on rebounding and getting my team extra possessions,” he said.

The Rattlers have an undersized frontcourt (forwards and centers), so Johnson has been stressing the importance of rebounding. Last year, the Rattlers were too much for the Yellow Jackets, who lost by 29 points.

“At every position, we should be bigger, better and stronger,” Johnson said.

He also said that he did not want the team to take its size advantage for granted.

FAMU has a deep bench that could give the Allen frontcourt a problem. Junior guard Muhammad Abdul-Aleem had 14 points and 7 rebounds in the sixth man role off the bench.

“We have a sixth man that can start for us in Muhammad,” Johnson said.

After scoring 24 bench points against EWC, Johnson is expecting more from his reserves Saturday.

The game starts at 4 p.m.