The Florida A&M University men’s basketball team may have fallen short of the SWAC championship. Still, its 2025 season saw the group exceed expectations and make a dramatic run in the last stretch of the season.
In the first year under head coach Charlie Ward, the Rattlers went to work and established an identity that extended beyond the box score.
“The big takeaway is the progression of our team and their resiliency in the way that they battled through the ups and downs,” assistant coach Lewis said. “That’s something that really stands out outside the wins and losses column.”
That resilience was paired with a strong sense of unity.
“I would say the identity of our team was staying connected,” Lewis added. “Our guys are like a band of brothers, and they all loved one another on and off the court.”
That bond played a major role in Florida A&M’s late-season surge, according to senior Micah Ocatve.
“We were all really big on playing for one another,” Ocatve said. “We all wanted to see each other win, so that’s what kept us going in that last stretch.”
Despite preseason projections placing the Rattlers near the bottom of the conference, the team flipped the narrative.
“Some people had us finishing eighth, I even saw 11th,” Octave said. “But we finished second in Coach Ward’s first year, so we overachieved in that point.”
Florida A&M’s season came to an end in the SWAC Tournament semifinal, falling 73-70 to Southern on a last-second three-pointer.
The Rattlers battled back from a double-digit first-half deficit and briefly took control in the second half, a reflection of how they responded to adversity throughout the year.
The loss highlighted how close the group is to breaking through, but the focus has already shifted to what’s next.
With a strong foundation in place, the program is turning its attention to the offseason, building the roster, refining its identity, and positioning itself to compete for a SWAC championship next year.
“Our main priority is continuing to put together a roster that can compete—and not only compete, but win a SWAC championship,” coach Lewis said. “We have a lot of foundation below our feet, so now it’s time to keep laying more of the bricks to be a successful championship program.”
