Florida A&M Uses Late Run To Claim Win Over Men’s Basketball

John Walker III’s three-pointer with 8:31 left in the second half gave the Texas Southern men’s basketball team it’s largest lead of the night at 63-54 but it also marked the last field goal the Tigers would score the rest of the way as Florida A&M stormed back for a 76-69 victory in the H&PE Arena in Saturday.

FAMU (5-16, 3-7 SWAC) used a 22-6 run over the final 7:55 of the contest to earn the victory while TSU (7-16, 3-7 SWAC) dropped a critical game which could have a huge impact in standings with the Rattlers with only a couple weeks left in the regular season.

During the decision 22-6 run, FAMU was 8-for-10 from the field as well as 6-for-6 from the free throw line while also forcing four turnovers out of the Tigers, who were 0-for-6 from the field and 6-for-9 from the free throw line.

Prior to the large run that FAMU went in the take the lead and eventually the victory, TSU had a large one itself when down 49-44 and Davon Barnes converted a layup and one free throw with 15:59 to go. The Tigers would add on 13 more points to a pair from FAMU to take a 60-51 lead.

Early in the first half, FAMU used a blistering three-point spree to take a 21-11 lead as Byron Smith had his hand in on all 12 FAMU points during that streak making three triples himself and assisting on a fourth that was made by Peyton Williams.

Smith’s three-pointer at the 6:35 mark left in the first half gave the Rattlers their largest lead of the game (11 points) at 32-21.

The Tigers battled throughout the remainder of the first half to cut the halftime deficit down to 41-38.

Walker III led the Tigers with 26 points while teammate Joirdon Karl Nichols earned himself a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double performance. PJ Henry would also chip in 11 points as the Tigers.

Noah Meren led the Rattlers in scoring and rebounding with a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double outing.

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TSU will have little time to recoup as they will welcome in Bethune-Cookman to the H&PE Arena on Monday for an 8 p.m. CDT tip-off live on ESPNU.