For nearly 28 minutes on Saturday night, the Alcorn State Braves had an answer for everything FAMU threw at them. They led at the half. They built an eight-point lead deep into the second half. They were, for a time, the more composed team in a raucous Al Lawson Center.
But winning teams, especially those with bigger aspirations, find a way. And with their backs against the wall, the FAMU Rattlers dug deep, authored a stunning second-half turnaround, and grinded out a crucial 66-58 victory to secure their fifth consecutive SWAC win and solidify their grip on a share of the conference lead.
The victory, fueled by a balanced scoring attack and a relentless defensive effort down the stretch, improved the Rattlers to 5-1 in conference play, knotting them at the top of the standings with in-state rival Benthune-Cookman. The loss dropped a scrappy Alcorn State squad, which entered the night tenth in the SWAC, to 2-5 in conference play.
“It wasn’t pretty, but conference wins never are,” said Head Coach Charlie Ward. “Alcorn came in here and gave us their best shot. We had to figure some things out on the fly, and I’m incredibly proud of the resilience this group showed. They never panicked.”
Panic would have been understandable. After trailing 30-29 at the break, the Rattlers saw the deficit swell to eight points with 12:38 remaining in the game, the Braves seemingly seizing all momentum. The Lawson Center crowd grew restless.
Then, the switch flipped.
The comeback was a methodical masterpiece of defensive stops and timely buckets. The offense, once stagnant, found its rhythm through its leaders. Senior guard Miles Ndalama poured in a game-high 17 points, providing a steadying hand whenever the Rattlers needed a basket. He was complemented by the backcourt duo of Jaquan Sanders (13 points) and Antonio Baker (11 points), who attacked the lane and hit critical shots.
Perhaps the most telling stat of the night was the 19 points contributed by the Rattlers’ bench, providing the vital energy boost needed to complete the rally.
“We just had to lock in,” said Ndalama, still catching his breath post-game. “We knew what we had to do. We started getting stops, converting on the other end, and the crowd got behind us. That was the difference.”
The Rattlers finally clawed back on a 10-0 run, finished off by a Sanders' three with 7:48 on the clock to seize a 52-49 lead they would not relinquish. From there, it became a defensive slugfest. The Braves were held to a scoring drought over the final three minutes as FAMU’s defense clamped down, securing rebounds and forcing contested shots until the final buzzer sounded.
There is little time to celebrate, however. The schedule offers no respite in the brutal SWAC grind. Waiting for them on Monday night are the Jackson State Tigers, who sit just behind them in the standings at No. 3. It’s a statement game, a clash of titans, and a chance for the Rattlers to prove their five-game streak is no fluke.
“We enjoy this one tonight, but tomorrow it’s back to work,” Ward added. “Jackson State is a very talented, well-coached team. We have to be ready.”
For one night, though, the Rattlers earned the right to enjoy the fruits of their resilience. They stared down a deficit, figured it out, and left no doubt who the top dogs in the Lawson Center are.