Photo: FAMU Athletics
Florida A&M’s Men’s Basketball took the floor December 3, to face the Southern University Jaguars. The Jaguars defeated the Rattlers 83-71 in a interconference battle.
In the first half, Jaguars managed to out rebound and shoot a notably better field goal percentage than the Rattlers. The Rattlers shot 39 percent opposed the Jaguars’ 57 percent accuracy from the field.
FAMU’s Nasir Core, freshman guard, provided a spark off the bench, scoring nine points in the beginning of the first half, to push the Rattlers forward in the game. The Rattlers held the lead until they allowed the Jaguars to go on a 31-13 run.
Despite the loss, the Rattlers’ bench scored 35 out of the 71 points combined.
When asked his reasoning for putting the bench out on the court, rather than the starting lineup, Head Coach Bryon Samuels responded, “We put guys out there who are giving us good lift defending and rebounding the ball.”
Derrick Dandridge, junior college transfer, finished with the game high of 13 points and six rebounds.
Dandridge spoken on his performance, explaining,“We practice rebounding every day and so we just have to come to the game and man up and do it,”
FAMU was able to get to the free throw line 29 times – and finished shooting 20 to 29 from the line.
They aim to “get to the line 25 times,” said Samuels.
The loss ups the Rattlers sixth straight game in a row.
The Rattlers will travel to play in the Hammond, L.A. to face Southeastern University on Dec. 12th at 7 p.m.