In one of their most complete performances of the season, the FAMU Rattlers men’s basketball team cruised to a 76-63 victory on Saturday night over conference foe Alabama State at the Al Lawson Center.
From the opening tip, the Rattlers (11-15, 8-7 SWAC) played with purpose and poise, building a lead they would not relinquish behind a balanced offensive attack and smothering defense.
Four players scored in double figures, led by Antonio Baker’s near double-double of 19 points and 9 rebounds. Jordan Chatman provided a major spark off the bench with 14 points, while big man Miles Ndalama made his presence felt inside, finishing with 12 points, and Tyler Shirley kicked in 10 points. The unselfish ball movement and scoring diversity kept the Hornets’ defense scrambling all night.
But it was on the defensive end where FAMU truly shined. They held Alabama State to just 40% shooting from the field and dominated the glass, pulling down 34 defensive rebounds and limiting the Hornets to a mere 7 second-chance points.
“That’s the identity we’ve been trying to build—tough, connected, and relentless on defense,” said Head Coach Charlie Ward. “When we defend and rebound like that, we can beat anybody in this league. Tonight, we showed it.”
The Rattlers never trailed in the second half, answering every Alabama State push with timely baskets and stops. The win moves FAMU to 8-7 in SWAC play, solidifying their position in the heart of the conference standings as they make a push toward the tournament.
Up next, the Rattlers look to carry this momentum into a critical road matchup against Southern University and Grambling State University this week.