FAMU Rattlers Defeat A&T Aggies 57-50 For First Win of Season

TALLAHASSEE, Florida -- The Florida A&M Rattlers (1-23, 1-10 MEAC) got their first win of the season in a 57-50 win over the Aggies of North Carolina A&T (6-20, 3-8 MEAC). Jermaine Ruttley and Jorge Rosa combined for 46 points to lead all scorers in the game.

Ruttley, shot .500 from the field, going nine-of-18 from the field, including four-of-seven from the three-point arc. Rosa, went six-of-14 from the field, three-of-nine from three-point range. Rosa also went seven-of-eight from the free throw line. Ruttley also led the Rattlers with nine rebounds.

Denzel Keyes was the only Aggie in double-figures with 13 points. He rounded out his double-double with 12 rebounds.

Jermaine Ruttley scored 24 points to lead all scorers.
Courtesy: Florida A&M Sports Information

FAMU jumped out to a 10-point lead, scoring the first 10 points behind hot shooting from Ruttley. They would not relinquish the lead until the second half. That was only momentarily as they took the lead again and held on until the end.

Several times this season, the Rattlers have outscored their opponents in the second half, but dug such a steep hole in the first half, the lead was too much to overcome. “I felt I needed to come out aggressive if we were to win tonight,” Ruttley said. “I felt like if I could get it going, Jorge would feed off of that and it worked out tonight,” he added.

“These kids…if you could see how they get after it and battle in practice, you would not be surprised at the outcome tonight,” head coach Byron Samuels said.

The Rattlers led by as many as 13 points in the game. While NCA&T held a 24-18 point lead in points in the paint and a decidedly lopsided 18-0 in points in the paint, FAMU’s 38.8 percent from the field, 36.8 percent from three-point range and 70.6 percent from the free throw line, were the stories of the game. The Rattlers were able to come up with key buckets when they needed to.

What’s next for the Rattlers: FAMU will take on the defending MEAC champion North Carolina Central University Eagles, Monday at 8 p.m.in the Lawson Center.

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COURTESY FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION