The Florida A&M Rattlers fought through a rocky first half to claim a victory over the Grambling State Tigers, thanks to a dominant second-half performance fueled by improved three-point shooting and aggressive defense.
It was an emotional and lively atmosphere in Al Lawson as it marked senior night. With friends and families in attendance, the Rattlers were looking to cap off the special occasion with a victory in the second-to-last home game of the season.
Turnovers were problematic early on for the Rattlers, as they struggled against Grambling State’s defense. By the midpoint of the first half, they had already committed six turnovers and trailed 13-5.
The Tigers would only make the game more difficult for the Ratters when they began to try and trap the Rattlers at half-court, ultimately leading to more errant passes and turnovers.
However, after trailing by as many as ten points, the Rattler began to hit their stride. After a well-timed timeout, the team regrouped and started a 10-0 run. Key three-pointers from Roderick Coffee III and Sterling Young gave the team a much-needed spark offensively, shifting the momentum in their favor. Coffee and Young led the Rattlers in scoring during the first half, each finishing with 11 points.
The Rattlers finished the half by attacking the paint and earning trips to the free-throw line to end the half leading Grambling State, 30-28.
With their slow start seemingly behind them, the Rattlers came out in the second half playing with a renewed sense of urgency. Their intensity on defense stifled Grambling State and their three-point shooting picked up in the second half which extended their lead.
Despite falling behind by 12 points, the Tigers did not back down. They tightened up their defense by keeping the Rattlers in front of them and forced them to take contested three-point shots. Instead of allowing easy buckets at the rim, they sent the Rattlers to the free-throw line– a strategy that cut the lead to just three points.
Ultimately, the Rattlers’ offensive efficiency in the second half would help them to prevail, outlasting the Tigers 68-73. Milton Matthews scored 10 points in the second half, including a pair of three-pointers.
FAMU point guard Roderick Coffee III, known for being the Rattler’s leading assist man, played the role of the team’s leading scorer. He was in command on offense, scoring an efficient 19 points while shooting 6-8 from the field.
Head Patrick Crarey III praised Coffee for his performance and his willingness to step into any role the team has needed from him this season.
“He’s been rock solid all year. He was a starter early only, then he went to the bench, but his character never changed, and his leadership never changed,” said Crarey. “I’m very hard on the point guard position because it’s the heartbeat of the team and it has to be the most connected person to the coach, so with me and him, the trust is very high.”
FAMU will now turn their attention to their game against the Southern University Jaguars on Monday, March 3.
Southern comes into the game as the number one team in the SWAC and holds a dominant victory over the Rattlers from their game back in January. With a win, FAMU would not only even the score but earn a boost in confidence before next week’s SWAC Tournament.
Rattlers’ Shake Off Slow Start to Beat Grambling State
