The FAMU men's basketball team suffered a narrow 76-75 loss to their in-state rivals, Bethune Cookman University, on Saturday afternoon, in Daytona Beach, FL. The Rattlers, who held a commanding 13-point lead with just 4:59 remaining in the game, saw their advantage slip away in dramatic fashion, ultimately succumbing to a last-second 3-pointer by Jesus Carralero Martin of the Wildcats.
The game was a rollercoaster of emotions for FAMU fans, as the Rattlers appeared to have control of the contest with a significant first half and late second half lead. However, Bethune Cookman's resilience and strategic adjustments turned the tide in their favor.
Milton Matthews and Sterling Young had standout performances for the Rattlers. Matthews led the team with an impressive 21 points, while Young contributed a crucial 20 points to the Rattlers' total.
"Our guys played hard, and Milton and Sterling had outstanding performances. We'll learn from this and come back stronger," said FAMU Head Coach Patrick Crarey.
The loss brings FAMU's regular season to a close with a record of 13-16 overall, 10-8 SWAC. The team will now shift their focus to the upcoming conference tournament, where they will look to regroup and make a deep run.