FAMU's bid to repeat as MEAC Tournament champs fell short last night as the Rattlers lost to Norfolk State 69-61 a quarterfinals game. The Rattlers finished the season with a 15-17 record.The game was an evenly contested match throughout, with 10 ties and eight lead changes. The lead went back and forth in the first 20 minutes.
The second half proved to be even more of a tug-of-war with ties or lead changes on every other possession. It came down to which team could get enough of a cushion down the stretch. The Spartans were able to accomplish that in the last five minutes. After FAMU’s Akini Akini tied the score at 55 on a tip-in at the 4:48 mark, Norfolk State went on a 6-0 mini run that shifted the momentum.
FAMU was playing under first year coach, Eugene Harris, who inherited, some veterans who were a part of last year’s team and their leadership kept the Rattlers in the game.
“The turning point of the game was when we were making a run and our inside player received a technical foul that allowed them free throws,” said Harris. “It turned from four to six points and we were never able to recover. But give Norfolk State credit.
This was bound to happen, we thought we found the answer in our last couch who was great on the court but off the court had some Gov. of NY in him. Not knocking the new coach but the other couch was plugged in, hopefully Eugene can get plugged in too.
ReplyDeleteI think that once Coach Harris gets his type of players in we will be at the top of the MEAC. Those guys really turned it on at the end of the season. Lets remember, he didn't have a staff until something like late november, so to go 15-17 after starting out in preseason work outs being the only coach is outstanding. I look forward to a winning season next year, with the MEAC title comeing back to the hill.
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