Florida A&M defeats Southern 67-59
Southern Falls Short in Thrilling 67-59 Victory for Florida A&M
In a tightly contested conference matchup, the Florida A&M Rattlers hosted their longtime rival Southern University on Monday night at Al Lawson Center. Despite a valiant effort from the visiting Bulldogs, it was the home team that emerged victorious, 67-59.
The game was a defensive battle from the opening tip, with both teams struggling to find their rhythm in the early going. However, Florida A&M's Tyler Shirley proved to be the catalyst for his team's success, scoring 12 points in the first half, including three 3-pointers, to give the Rattlers a 30-25 lead at halftime.
Southern, led by Michael Jacobs' 10 points in the opening 20 minutes, would eventually close the gap to just three points heading into the final frame. However, Florida A&M's balanced attack and suffocating defense proved too much for Southern to overcome.
In the second half, Shirley continued to dominate, adding five more points to his total while also dishing out three assists. Meanwhile, Jacobs kept his team in the game with 10 more points, but it was simply not enough as Florida A&M took control down the stretch.
The Rattlers' Micah Octave chipped in with eight rebounds and 12 points, while Shirley's all-around effort of 17 points, three assists, and two steals proved too much for Southern to handle.
For Southern, Jacobs led the way with 20 points, but it was not enough as his team ultimately fell short. The Bulldogs' struggles from beyond the arc (1-7 3PT) were a major contributor to their defeat, while Florida A&M's 6-23 3PT performance was actually slightly better.
In the end, Florida A&M's defense proved to be the deciding factor, holding Southern to just 37.0% shooting and forcing 14 turnovers. The Rattlers' own offense was efficient, shooting 42.0% from the field and converting 85.0% of their free throws.
The victory improves Florida A&M's conference record, while Southern falls to 2-3 in conference play. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs remain a force to be reckoned with in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Game Stats
Florida A&M (HOME)
- Field Goals: 22/52 (42.0%)
- 2-Point FG: 16/29 (55.2%)
- 3-Point FG: 6/23 (26.0%)
- Free Throws: 17/20 (85.0%)
- Rebounds: 39
- Assists: 13
- Turnovers: 18
- Steals: 6
- Blocks: 5
- Total Fouls: 19
Southern (AWAY)
- Field Goals: 19/52 (37.0%)
- 2-Point FG: 16/32 (50.0%)
- 3-Point FG: 3/20 (15.0%)
- Free Throws: 18/27 (67.0%)
- Rebounds: 32
- Assists: 6
- Turnovers: 14
- Steals: 12
- Blocks: 1
- Total Fouls: 18
Game Context
The matchup was a conference showdown between two SWAC powerhouses, with Florida A&M looking to improve their league record and Southern seeking to bounce back from a tough loss earlier in the week.