TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Ricky Johnson tied his career high of 25 points and Bethune-Cookman beat Florida A&M, 61-44 on Saturday inside The Lawson Center.
Johnson had 10 points by halftime as the Wildcats (7-15, 3-5 Mid-Eastern Athletic) took a 26-16 lead. The redshirt junior Johnson reached the 20-point mark for the third time in four games.
Quintin Brewer added 12 points, eight rebounds and five blocks, while Brandon Stewart scored nine points and Mikel Trapp 8. Travis Elliott led the Wildcats with nine rebounds.
The seven wins match the Wildcats' total from all of last season. The rival schools met for the 160th time with the 44 points scored by the Rattlers their lowest total against Bethune-Cookman since Jan. 31, 1949, when the Wildcats recorded their first victory over Florida A&M 37-32.
Johnson canned two 3s in a 12-2 run that gave the Wildcats an early 12-5 lead. They led 26-16 at halftime.
The Wildcats took their biggest led at 52-32 on a Stewart free throw with 6:38 remaining. Florida A&M (0-21,0-8) never got closer than 14 down the stretch.
Jermaine Rutley led the Rattlers with 22.
Bethune-Cookman hosts Stetson Tuesday.
HEAD COACH GRAVELLE CRAIG
"We did a good job defensively both halves in the man and zone. Any time you hold a team to 44, you're doing something right."
"We need to get to the free throw line more. We're averaging 15, but we need to get that to 18. It would help in terms of extending the game and allowing us to set up our press."
"I thought we could be 4-4 or even 5-3 at the halfway point, but we are where we are. Championships aren't won in January.
"Ricky's played himself in condition. He has legs on his shot because of the better condition."
RICKY JOHNSON
"I just wanted to do what I needed to help my team get a win."
"Coach is right about the conditioning. I had to get back in better shape."
NOTES: The 17-point margin of victory was the largest on the road in MEAC play in the Craig era ... Craig is now 2-2 at FAMU and 2-1 at home against the Rattlers ... Trapp hit two three-pointers and now is by himself in 5th place on the all-time 3FG list with 159....Six of B-CU's seven wins have been in games that started before 6 p.m.
