Florida A&M took control early and never looked back, earning a 72-62 road win over Jackson State on Monday night at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.
The win improved FAMU’s record to 7-11 (4-3 in conference play) as they won their fourth straight game.
Jordan Chatman and Milton Matthews led a balanced scoring attack for the Rattlers with 18 and 17 points, respectively. Kaleb Washington added 16 points and nine rebounds while shooting an efficient 7-of-14 from the field. Roderick Coffee III also reached double figures with 12 points and three steals.
FAMU seized control early, building a 16-point lead in the first half when they went up 22-6 at the 9:15 mark. The Rattlers took a 27-21 advantage into halftime despite shooting just 31.3% in the opening period. Their defense held Jackson State to 31.6% from the field in the first half.
The second half saw improved offensive execution from both teams, with FAMU shooting a blistering 60% from the field. Though Jackson State made several runs and briefly took the lead midway through the second half, the Rattlers responded each time. A key stretch saw FAMU extend their lead back to double digits late, with Coffee III sealing the win at the free throw line.
The Rattlers won despite being outrebounded 29-38, making up for it by forcing 17 Jackson State turnovers and converting them into 12 points. FAMU also dominated in transition with 10 fast break points and showed efficiency in second-chance opportunities, scoring 16 points off offensive rebounds.
Former Rattler Shannon Grant led Jackson State with 18 points in defeat, but FAMU’s defense held the rest of Jackson State’s lineup in check, with no other player scoring more than 11 points.
Courtesy: Florida A&M Athletics
