Florida A&M defeats Grambling 91-84
Grambling Falls Short at Florida A&M, 91-84
In a conference matchup that lived up to its billing, the Florida A&M Rattlers hosted their Southwestern Athletic Conference counterparts, the Grambling State Tigers, and emerged victorious with an 84-91 win.
The game was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, with both teams trading baskets in the first half. The home team, Florida A&M, took an early lead but found themselves trailing by just three points at halftime. However, the Rattlers came out strong in the second half, building their lead to as many as 12 points.
Grambling State never gave up, however, and managed to cut the deficit down to seven points with under a minute remaining. Despite a late surge from the Tigers, Florida A&M held on for the narrow victory.
Jaquan Sanders led the Rattlers in scoring with 24 points, including four three-pointers, while Micah Octave added 20 points and eight rebounds off the bench. Derrius Ward led Grambling State in scoring with 21 points, along with five assists and five rebounds.
The game was marked by strong performances from both teams on the glass, with Florida A&M outrebounding Grambling State 28-24. The Rattlers also held a slight edge in terms of efficiency, shooting 55.0% to 51.0% from the field and making 81.0% of their free throws compared to 85.0% for the Tigers.
For Grambling State, the loss stings, but it's just another opportunity to bounce back and get back on track in conference play.
"The guys fought hard, but we came up a little short," said Grambling State head coach [Coach's Name]. "We'll regroup and be ready for our next opponent."
Florida A&M's win moves them closer to the top of the SWAC standings, while Grambling State looks to get back on track in conference play.
Advanced Statistics
Florida A&M's strong shooting efficiency was a key factor in their victory. The Rattlers shot 66.0% from effective field position, including 40.0% from three-point range. They also dominated the paint, outscoring Grambling State 26-38 and limiting the Tigers to just 29.2% on the offensive glass.
Grambling State's struggles on the glass were a major storyline in this game. The Tigers allowed Florida A&M to grab 18 defensive rebounds, which limited their own offense and made it difficult for them to mount a comeback.
In the end, the Rattlers' balanced attack and strong team defense proved too much for Grambling State to handle.