Stetson Men's Basketball Preview: Florida A&M

WATCH ESPN3:  Florida A&M vs. Stetson (Men's Basketball),  Sat., Jan. 3, 2015, 1:00PM 

DELAND, Florida -- Stetson and Florida A&M meet for the second time this season when they face off at Edmunds Center ... the Hatters defeated the Rattlers, 62-50, back on Nov. 29 in Greeley, Colo. ... the game was a part of the Wyoming Classic ... a win today would give the Hatters back-to-back victories for the first time this season, and the first time since winning three straight last January ... sophomore forward and leading scorer Brian Pegg is expected to return to the floor today after missing the previous five games with an injury ... the Hatters went just 1-4 without Pegg in the lineup.


The Coaches
Stetson’s Corey Williams begins his second season with the Hatters this season. The 21st head coach in school history, Williams led the Hatters to a 7-24 record as a rookie. The former Florida State and Oral Roberts assistant coach was a standout at Oklahoma State, and spent parts of two seasons as a player in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves. He was a member of Chicago’s 1993 NBA championship squad.

Florida A&M’s Byron Samuels is in his first season with the Rattlers. He is 75-135 in his ninth season overall as a collegiate head coach.

About Florida A&M
The Rattlers are enduring a difficult start to the 2014-15 season, having lost each of their first 12 games. FAMU is averaging just 51.5 points per game while allowing opponents to score nearly 75 points per contest.

Florida A&M is ineligible for both the MEAC and NCAA tournaments this season due to APR issues over the previous two seasons.

Last Time Out
Stetson’s front court of Kentwan Smith, Kyle Sikora and Wyatt Sikora combined for 41 points and 23 rebounds, helping the Hatters snap a five-game losing streak with a 76-61 win over Florida Tech, Tuesday at Edmunds Center.

Smith, the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Player of the Week, recorded his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Kyle Sikora scored a career-high 15 points and added eight rebounds while younger brother Wyatt chipped in with a career-high 11 points and four boards in 14 minutes off the bench.

The Hatters (4-10) trailed just once in the contest, after a free throw in the opening minute by the Panthers gave them a 1-0 lead. Stetson made a concerted to effort to score in the paint and jumped out to an early 12-4 lead after a dunk by Kyle Sikora.

COURTESY STETSON UNIVERSITY ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS