FAMU captures MEAC Title

The Rattlers beat the Hornets of Delaware State to caputre the MEAC title 58-56.

Brian Greene hit a buzzer-beating shot to seal the win for FAMU.

GAME REPORT: Florida A&M 58, Delaware State 56
Greene finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Rattlers, who earned their fourth NCAA tournament berth.

Florida A&M trailed by six points midway through the second half before closing the game strong. The Rattlers outscored Delaware State 14-2 during a 6½-minute span, taking a 50-44 lead on Greene's steal and layup with 7 minutes left. The Hornets scrapped back and tied it 56-56 on Roy Bright's putback with 32.6 seconds left.

Bright finished with 23 points, and Elyon Bush added 10 for Delaware State (21-12), the MEAC's top seed which was denied its second trip to the NCAA tournament in three years.

Delaware State entered the league tournament on a roll, having claimed its third consecutive regular-season title in dominating fashion. The Hornets finished with a commanding four-game lead over second-place Florida A&M.

But during the game's opening moments it seemed like it was the Rattlers who would cruise to an easy win, scoring seemingly at will on putbacks and layups against the MEAC's stingiest defense. Green scored the Rattlers' first 12 points as part of a 14-5 run to begin the game, with Rome Sanders capping the spurt with a fast-break dunk.

Delaware State regrouped, calmed down at both ends of the floor and responded with a 20-5 run. Bright had nine points during the run, and his layup with about six minutes left gave the Hornets their first lead, 18-17. They led 28-27 at the break.

Joe Ballard added 12 points and Darius Glover added 11 for Florida A&M, which reached the MEAC championship game for the first time since winning it three years ago. That year, the Rattlers beat Lehigh in the NCAA tournament's opening-round game before losing as a 16-seed to top-seeded Kentucky.