For over 30 minutes, the Rattlers (10-14, 7-6 SWAC) executed with precision, transforming a 39-29 halftime advantage into a seemingly blowout. The ball movement was crisp, the shots were falling, and the defense was smothering. Then, the script flipped.
The Braves (6-19, 5-8 SWAC), undeterred by a significant deficit and a critical shortage of timeouts—having exhausted their final one with a staggering 9:07 left on the clock—unleashed a desperate and devastating run. Applying relentless full-court pressure, they forced the rattled Rattlers into a series of turnovers and rushed shots, methodically shredding the lead.
What was once a 27-point canyon was suddenly an 11-point game, and awaking the Braves' fanbase in building. The Braves, playing with nothing to lose and no way to stop the clock, outscored FAMU 49-47 in the second period, a stat that underscores their furious, if ultimately futile, comeback bid.
“We got comfortable, and against a team with that much fight, comfortable is dangerous,” said FAMU Head Coach Charlie Ward. “They made plays. You have to credit them. We lost our defensive intensity and started playing not to lose instead of playing to win.”
Compounding the Rattlers’ second-half struggles was the continued absence of senior center Miles Ndalama, whose presence in the paint was sorely missed. Without their defensive anchor for the second straight game, FAMU was outscored 49-47 after the break, a stat line that belies the sheer scale of the comeback they nearly surrendered.
The Rattlers leave with a reminder that in conference play, no lead is ever truly safe. Tonight, they learned that lesson the hard way—but just barely, and with a win still beside their name.
Next up: The Rattlers play host to the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on Thursday.