On a cold Mississippi night, the FAMU Rattlers brought the heat.
In a game defined by defensive discipline and relentless effort on the glass, the Rattlers (7-9, 4-1 SWAC) methodically dismantled Mississippi Valley State, 62-48, to extend their conference win streak to four and firmly plant themselves among the contenders in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
From the opening tip, it was clear this would be a night dictated by FAMU’s defensive identity. The Rattlers held the Delta Devils to a frigid 31.5% from the field and a mere 20% from beyond the arc, smothering shooters and closing driving lanes with purpose.
“We came in with a plan to be disruptive, to make every shot tough,” said Head Coach Charlie Ward. “Our guys executed. They communicated, they helped, they rebounded. That’s how you win on the road in this league.”
It didn’t take long for that plan to materialize. After a brief 4-2 lead, the Rattlers unleashed a devastating 9-0 run, capped by a deep three from senior guard Micah Octave, that pushed the advantage to 13-2 just over four minutes into the game. Mississippi Valley State never fully recovered.
Leading the charge was senior guard Jaquan Sanders, who turned in a complete performance with a game-high 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Whether probing the defense or finding the open man, Sanders was the steady hand the Rattlers needed.
“We knew they’d try to pressure us early,” Sanders said. “We stayed composed. We moved the ball, trusted our shooters, and most importantly, we got stops.”
The Rattlers didn’t just get stops—they owned the glass. FAMU outrebounded MVSU 44-27, with Antonio Baker pulling down a game-high nine boards. More telling was the work on the offensive glass: 11 offensive rebounds leading to 12 second-chance points, a backbreaking tally for a Delta Devils squad trying to mount a comeback.
“Rebounding is effort. It’s want-to,” Baker said. “Tonight, we wanted it more.”
The Rattlers took a commanding 35-17 lead into halftime, powered by six first-half threes. But it was their adaptability in the second half that sealed it. When the deep shots stopped falling, FAMU pounded the ball inside, scoring 16 of their 27 second-half points in the paint.
Mississippi Valley State’s Michael James, one of the conference’s most dangerous shooters, was held to just 1-of-9 from beyond the arc—a testament to the defensive focus of guards like Sanders and Octave, who added 13 points of his own.
Off the bench, Anquan Boldin Jr. provided a spark with 10 points, offering scoring punch when the starters needed a breather.
As the final horn sounded, there were no theatrics, no over-the-top celebrations. Just business-like handshakes and the quiet confidence of a team hitting its stride.
“We’re building something,” Ward said. “Every win matters. Every possession matters. Tonight, we took care of business.”
The Rattlers will look to keep rolling when they return home to host Alcorn State on Saturday. If Monday night was any indication, this team is starting to believe—and they’re fast becoming a problem for the rest of the SWAC.