Jordan Chatman caught fire, draining seven three-pointers on his way to a game-high 25 points, to lead the Rattlers to a convincing 93-77 victory over the Albany State Golden Rams. The win wasn’t just their second of the season—it was a statement. It was Head Coach Charlie Ward’s first home victory at the helm, and perhaps most importantly, it gave the Rattlers (2-5) their first taste of back-to-back success this season.
Chatman was nearly flawless from beyond the arc, finishing 7-of-12 from deep and 8-of-13 overall. His shooting spree ignited an offense that had four players finish in double figures, including Antonio Baker Jr. (19 points), Anquan Boldin Jr. (14), and Miles Ndalama (10).
“When that first one dropped, I felt it—the rim looked like an ocean,” Chatman said postgame, a towel draped around his neck and a steady grin on his face. “My teammates kept finding me. When you’ve got guys trusting you like that, you just let it fly.”
For Ward, the legendary Florida State quarterback and Heisman winner now building his own legacy on the hardwood, the victory was a long time coming. His team has shown flashes all season—including a narrow 85-82 loss to Jacksonville earlier this month—but until now, closing out games and sustaining momentum had been a challenge.
“Progress isn’t always linear,” Ward remarked in his postgame press conference, his tone calm but his eyes revealing clear satisfaction. “Tonight, these guys showed what we’re capable of when we play connected, unselfish basketball. Jordan was special, but this was a complete team effort.”
Albany State, which fell to 2-6, struggled to contain FAMU’s offensive outburst. The Golden Rams hung around early but had no answer for the Rattlers’ second-half shooting barrage, which saw them pull away decisively after halftime.
The challenge now for FAMU is to build on this momentum—quickly. They host the Jacksonville Dolphins on Wednesday night in a swift rematch of their nail-biting early-December clash before heading to Texas for a two game road trip. It’s the second game in a demanding four-game week, a stretch that will test the Rattlers’ depth and resilience.
But for one night, at least, the only test was passed with flying colors. The ball was snapping, the shots were falling, and in the stands, you could feel it—not just relief, but belief.
Chatman and the Rattlers didn’t just win a game. They may have found their spark.