The Rattlers have been on a tirade winning 8 of their last 9 following a win against Jackson State 76-71.
Sitting at 7-4 in the SWAC, they faced a challenge today in Jackson State. Though the Rattlers defeated JSU in January, they were ranked 2nd in the conference. This game was crucial to seeding as FAMU inches closer to the conference tournament. With a win today, the Rattlers moved into the 2nd seed.
Milton Mathews, Jordan Chatman, and Sterling Young came out raining threes in the first half. Overall the team was aiming to get up big and early. On the defensive side of the ball, Crarey’s high-intensity zone created 5 turnovers.
Although coming off the bench this game, Sterling Young has played a pivotal role in their success on offense, opening the floor up, adding a three of his own, and getting to the free throw line.
The Rattlers are playing with a new level of confidence as the regular season draws to a close. “We set the level of expectations on how we work on a daily basis, and I expect them to come in focused on the task at hand,” Head Coach Patrick Crarey II said when asked about their preparation for big games.
The second half showed a change in momentum for both teams. Jackson State implemented a full-court pressure that definitely gave the Rattlers issues
Jackson State began playing more aggressively and causing turnovers during the Rattlers’ transition offense. This slowly but surely allowed them to claw their way back into the game, despite being down as much as 25 points.
In turn, the crowd at Al Lawson made their presence felt. Cheers and chants of encouragement and “defense” rained down from the stands.
Despite a sloppy last few minutes, free throw shooting from Sterling Young and Roderick Coffee III would put the game on ice. Young would finish with 28 points off the bench.
Coach Crarey accepted responsibility for the Rattlers being ill-prepared for the full-court pressure but commended the players for their grit and ability to finish the game.
The Rattlers will return to Al Lawson Center on Monday, 2/17 against Alcorn State University.
WANM Sports Correspondent, Justin Lloyd, provides a recap on FAMU men’s basketball’s win over Jackson State.
