In a game that swung like a pendulum and ended in agony for the home crowd, the FAMU Rattlers let not one, but two commanding leads slip through their fingers, falling 66–65 to the Jackson State Tigers in a SWAC thriller that lived up to its billing—and then some.
With first place in the conference on the line, the Rattlers (8–10, 5–2 SWAC) saw their hopes dented by a resilient Tigers squad that refused to quit, mounting two separate comebacks in a contest defined by furious runs and crushing momentum shifts.
For much of the night, it looked like FAMU’s game to lose. And in the end, that’s exactly what happened.
The Rattlers came out firing, building a 41–32 halftime advantage behind a blistering display from beyond the arc. Eight first-half threes electrified the Al Lawson Center, with Micah Octave capping a 6–0 run late in the period with a deep ball that seemed to suck the air out of Jackson State.
But the Tigers (6–14, 5–2) had two answers all night: Daeshun Ruffin and Jayme Mitchell Jr.
The electric guard-forward duo combined for a staggering 50 points for Jackson State, 15 rebounds, and six assists, relentlessly attacking the rim and draining the life out of a once-raucous Al Lawson Center. Ruffin, cool and surgical, dropped 30 points and dished six assists, slicing through FAMU’s defense at will. Mitchell, a force in the paint and on the glass, added 20 points and nine rebounds, dominating in key moments.
A methodical, physical second-half effort saw Jackson State chip away, eventually seizing a 54–51 lead and putting the rattled Rattlers on their heels. FAMU responded with grit—a 6–0 spurt of their own, keyed by defensive stops and transition finishes, put them back up 57–54 with just under eight minutes to play.
Then came the collapse.
Jackson State locked down defensively, forced tough shots, and capitalized in the half-court. Over the final seven minutes, the Tigers outscored FAMU 12–8, sealing the game with tough finishes at the rim and clutch free throws down the stretch.
“We lost our composure when it mattered most,” said FAMU Charlie Ward after the game. “Big-time players make big-time plays in conference games like this. Ruffin and Mitchell—they were the difference. We had no answer.”
Kaleb Washington led all scorers with 17 points and added five rebounds, showcasing the inside-out versatility that has made him a focal point of the Rattlers’ attack. Jordan Chatman poured in 16, and Miles Ndalama provided a spark off the bench with 10 points. But it wasn’t enough to overcome the Tigers’ balanced attack and relentless effort on the glass.
Antonio Baker was a menace on the offensive boards, snagging three of FAMU’s 12 offensive rebounds—part of a effort that produced 10 second-chance points. Yet, when it mattered most, the Rattlers couldn’t convert when the game hung in the balance.
The loss drops FAMU to 5–2 in the SWAC, now sitting in second place behind Bethune-Cookman, who strengthened its claim as the conference leader.
There’s little time to dwell—the Rattlers hit the road this weekend to face Alabama A&M in Normal, Alabama. How they respond after a gut-wrenching defeat like this will reveal their character.
But in a game of inches, missed opportunities, and stunning turnarounds, one thing is clear: in the SWAC, nothing comes easy.