Jan. 28, 2012

Box Score / Post-Game Interviews

By Dan Ryan
B-CUAthletics.com

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Those missed free throws and that blocked lay-up in the final moments will probably be remembered the most, but other factors weighed in Saturday as Bethune-Cookman saw its four-game winning streak snapped in a 68-62 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference loss to Florida A&M before 3,965 in the Lawson Center.

The Rattlers (6-16 overall, 4-4 MEAC) hit 10 of 18 three-point attempt and made the most of second-chance opportunities even before the Wildcats (9-13,6-2) went scoreless the final 1:10.

"We put ourselves in that position," said B-CU Acting Head Coach Gravelle Craig. "We usually defend the three better than we did tonight and we didn't offensive rebound.

Kevin Dukes' follow with 1:10 left closed it to 64-62, but that was the final Wildcat basket.

"You have to capitalize on your opportunities on the road," Craig said. "You don't want to blame it all on those plays, but you need to make those plays. We'll learn from this."

B-CU spent most of the game playing catch-up. FAMU used a couple of threes to open up a 49-42 lead, but the Wildcats rallied to take a 54-52 advantage on two Ricky Johnson free throws with 7:42 left.

In the first half, B-CU missed its first seven shots and nine of its first 11 as the Rattlers led by as many as nine points and had 27-19 advantage with 2:57 remaining.

Dukes drained three consecutive three-pointers, and B-CU led 28-27 at the break.

Dukes led B-CU with 15 points, followed by Adrien Coleman and Garrius Holloman with 13 apiece. Holloman and Stanley Elliott each had seven rebounds. Chris Watson led FAMU with 18, 12 on three-pointers. Amin Stevens scored 13, and

Yannick Crowder double-doubled with 13 points and 12 rebounds.

B-CU turns the corner of its conference schedule in a tie with Savannah State for second place in the league standings. The Wildcats host North Carolina A&T Saturday in Historic Moore Gymnasium.