FAMU snatches win from rival Bethune Cookman

Photo: Senior guard Leslie Robinson has had a breakout season leading the Rattlers in scoring averaging 15.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg and 1.1 apg.

Akini Akini's double-double helps FAMU beat rival Bethune-Cookman

It was billed as Senior Night. It ended up being one heck of a house party.

With more than 3,600 fans dancing, chanting and stepping the night away at Gaither Gymnasium, the Florida A&M men's basketball team spanked rival Bethune-Cookman 69-50.
The victory meant little to the Rattlers' seed in next week's MEAC tournament; FAMU is slotted as the sixth seed and is expected to play 11th-seeded Maryland-Eastern Shore on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Raleigh, N.C.

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The Rattlers are clearly a dangerous team to be reckoned with in the MEAC Tournament with momentum and a five game winning streak. First year coach Eugene Harris is proving to be a very good coach with an undersized team. Finally, the Rattlers are getting his system, but lacks the size and depth to deal with the regular season MEAC champions, Morgan State and second place teams Hampton and Norfolk State.

No doubt looking at the entire body of work in a 29 game season, the Morgan Bears are poised to make some real noise in March Madness. Both Todd Bozeman and Eugene Harris have done an amazing job, but Bozeman had much more talent to work with this season with potential MEAC Defensive Player of the Year, Boubacar Coly. And let us not forget about the sharp shooting guard Jamar Smith and consistent forward Marquise Kately.

FAMU however, matches up well with the Bears and have proven they can beat them. The difference has been the Rattlers Akini Akini, who must have a double/double to neutralize Coly for the Rattlers to have any chance repeating as MEAC Tournament Champions and going to the NCAAs.

In spite of the odds against the Rattlers, we like their chances to upset the rest of the MEAC as they have no pressures, finishing the regular season five games back from Morgan State. The Rattlers seem to do more with less which makes for an exciting MEAC Tournament, where legends are made.

Akini Akini--It's your time. Do your thang!!

-beepbeep