Feb. 28, 2009

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Five minutes of play without a field goal proved to be the Rams' undoing on Saturday evening as the Florida A&M University Rattlers mounted a 14-2 run midway through the second half of play and turned a two-point WSSU advantage into a 12-point advantage of their own as FAMU earned a hard-fought 71-69 victory at Joel Coliseum.

After leading by four points at 32-28 at halftime following a first half in which they would hit 46 percent of their shots from the field, the Rams would see the game slip away over a span of five minutes of play without a field goal.

Leading 51-49 with 12:44 to play in the contest, the Rams would helplessly watch as Florida A&M mounted a 14-2 run during which WSSU's only points would come from the free throw line as the visiting Rattlers opened up a 12-point advantage of their own en route to leading 63-51 with just over seven minutes remaining in the contest.

The Rams would trim the lead to as little as one point following a clutch Jamal Durham three-point field goal with 34.6 seconds remaining in the contest, but WSSU would get no closer for the remainder of the contest as free throws and a Lamar Twitty block of Brian Fisher's attempt to tie the game would push the eventual margin of victory to two points as Florida A&M earned the season-series split with the Rams.

Jamarcus McClinton led the Rams with 12 points in the loss as he led a trio of players in double-figure scoring. Paul Davis and Brandon Hobbs each chipped in with 11 points and Brian Fisher and Jamal Durham each added 10 points in a losing effort as the Rams recorded five players in double figures for the first time since March 3, 2008.

Brandon Bryant and Lamar Twitty each recorded 20 points for the Rattlers in the victory as three Florida A&M players recorded double-digit scoring totals in the contest.

The loss drops the Rams to 8-19 overall while the Rattlers improve to 9-18 (6-8 MEAC) on the season with the victory.

Winston-Salem State University returns to action on Monday, March 2, 2009 at 7:02 p.m. as they play host to the Wildcats of Bethune-Cookman University at the Joel Coliseum in a contest that will be broadcast live on ESPNU.

For additional information on WSSU men's basketball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at (336) 750-2143 or log on to the Official Website of WSSU Athletics at WSSURams.com.