HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University men's basketball team had four players in double figures as the Bulldogs used a big second half to end a five-game losing streak with a 73-61 victory over Florida A&M on Saturday in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) game a the AAMU Event Center.
Alabama A&M (4-17 overall, 3-5 SWAC), playing in front of a record home crowd of 3,913, broke a 47-all tie by using a 17-1 run over a seven-minute stretch in the second half to pick up the conference win. Florida A&M (4-15, 2-6) closed the gap six (66-60) with 3:25 remaining, but never got any closer.
Dailin Smith led Alabama A&M with 15 points and four rebounds.
Cameron Tucker poured in 12 points, a team-high four assists and four boards, while
Lorenzo Downey added 11 points, six boards, a team-high four steals, one assist and one blocked shot.
EJ Williams chipped in 10 points, two boards and two assists.
Jalen Speer paced Florida A&M with 22 points, a team-high six assists and one steal, while Shannon Grant poured in 12 points, eight boards and two assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Florida A&M used a 6-0 run to break open a close game, 15-8, after a Ja'Derryus Eatmon dunk with just over 13 minutes to play in the first half
- Alabama A&M answered with an 8-0 run, grabbing a 16-15 lead capped by a Smith 3-pointer with 10:36 remaining
- The Rattlers responded with three straight buckets by Speer as FAMU took a 25-20 advantage with just under seven minutes left
- The Bulldogs went cold shooting from the floor, going more than five minutes without a field goal, until Downey drained a triple, cutting the deficit to 31-28 with 2:14 left
- Speer completed a three-point play, giving FAMU a 34-28 lead with 1:37 remaining, but an EJ Williams bucket with 1:20 left closed the gap to 34-30
- Neither team could score in the final minute as AAMU entered the break trailing, 34-30
- Alabama A&M tied the game at 38 after buckets by Smith and Tucker, with just a little more than 17 minutes to play
- Two free throws by Williams gave AAMU a 40-39 lead with 16:31 remaining
- The Rattlers went cold from the floor, going more than three minutes without a field goal, as the Bulldogs built a 47-42 lead after a Jayland Randall layup
- With the game tied at 47, Alabama A&M went on a 17-1 run, taking advantage of FAMU's cold shooting as the Bulldogs stretched the lead to 64-48 after a pair of free throws by Downey with 6:39 remaining.
- Free throws by Tucker during the final two minutes sealed the victory as Alabama A&M cruised down the stretch
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 43.8 percent (21-of-48) from the floor and 76.5 percent (26-of-34) from the free-throw line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 33 rebounds, with 27 off the defensive glass
- Dailin Smith registered 15 points and four rebounds
- Cameron Tucker poured in 12 points, a team-high four assists and four boards
- Lorenzo Downey added 11 points, six boards, a team-high four steals, one assist and one blocked shot
- EJ Williams chipped in 10 points, two boards and two assists
- The Bulldogs finished with 26 points in the paint, 23 bench points, 23 fastbreak points, 20 points off 16 AAMU turnovers and six second-chance points
- Florida A&M went 24-of-60 shooting (40.0 percent) and 9-of-14 (64.3 percent) from the charity stripe
- The Rattlers grabbed 38 rebounds, including 11 on the offensive glass
- Jalen Speer paced Florida A&M with 22 points, a team-high six assists and one steal,
- Shannon Grant poured in 12 points, eight boards and two assists
- The Rattlers finished with 32 points in the paint, 16 bench points, 13 points off 13 AAMU turnovers, 10 fastbreak points and 10 second-chance points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M concludes its short two-game homestand with First Responders/Military Appreciation Night as the Bulldogs play host to Bethune-Cookman on Monday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and streamed on Bulldogs All-Access.
For complete coverage of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).
