Daytona Beach, FL – Storylines abound as Bethune-Cookman men's basketball closes out the 2022 regular season this weekend at bitter rival Florida A&M, Saturday March 5 at 4 p.m. in Tallahassee.
 
The Wildcats sit right on the fringe of a SWAC tournament berth. As the regular season comes to a close, B-CU anchors the ninth-place spot. Jackson State's victory over Arkansas – Pine Bluff Thursday night puts the Tigers out of reach in the seventh-place spot.
 
Prairie View A&M is vulnerable in the eighth spot – a loss to Texas Southern on Saturday would give B-CU a chance to jump them in the standings.
 
Alabama State also looms in the 10 spot – a win for the Hornets over Grambling State Saturday would pull them ahead of the Wildcats based on head-to-head record – even if the Wildcats were to win Saturday.
 
A lot is at stake for B-CU Saturday as first-year head coach Reggie Theus looks to secure a SWAC postseason berth in his first campaign at the helm. One thing remains constant if the Wildcats are to extend their season – Saturday is a must-win.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Saturday, March 5
Opponent: Florida A&M (12-16, 10-7 SWAC)
Time: 4 p.m. EST
Location: Tallahassee, Fla. / Al Lawson Center
Live Stats: https://famuathletics.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Listen: Rattler Sports Network - Florida A&M (famuathletics.com)
 
Recap
 
As their postseason hopes began to dwindle after a late-night loss to Alabama State on Feb. 21, the Wildcats did not give up, and currently ride a two-game winning streak versus Southern and Grambling State. Marcus Garrett, reigning SWAC Player of the Week, led the way with a buzzer-beater to down Southern in overtime, and a career-high 27 points as B-CU defeated Grambling State.
 
Scouting the Rattlers
 
FAMU is 12-16 this season, with a 10-7 record in SWAC play. The Rattlers return home to Tallahassee after falling to Southern, 58-51 on Monday night.
 
The Wildcats defeated the Rattlers, 66-59 to open SWAC play back on Jan. 3. Kevin Davis scored 26 points with 13 rebounds in the win. FAMU followed that loss with another loss at Southern, but then tore their way to seven straight conference wins.
 
FAMU averages 64.7 points per game and allows an average of 68.9 to opponents. The Rattlers are shooting 43 percent from the field and an even 30 percent from deep this season
 
The SWAC's leading scorer MJ Randolph leads the way for FAMU with 18.8 points per game this season. He also grabs 6.3 rebounds per game, dishes out 3.7 assists per game, and is shooting 47 percent from the field. Jalen Speer and Bryce Moragne also average in double figures for scoring.
 
Notes

• Three Wildcats are in the top 11 in scoring in the SWAC this season. Joe French, Kevin Davis, and Marcus Garrett each crack the leaderboard.
• Joe French is the SWAC's most accurate three-point shooter and the 10^th best three-point shooter in all of NCAA college basketball, shooting 43.64 percent from deep
• Davis ranks second in the SWAC in rebounds per game at 7.8. He also ranks fifth in field goal percentage at 45 percent – just ahead of teammate Joe French.
• The Wildcats attempted a season-high 30 free throw attempts last time out at Grambling – they have gotten to the line 20 or more times in five of their last seven games
• B-CU has made six or more three pointers in four straight games – they had reached the mark only five times in the season prior to the stretch.  

 
All-Time Series
 
The Wildcats and Rattlers have met 170 times in the history of the rivalry. FAMU holds a 100-70 edge in the series, though they dropped a contest to B-CU at Moore Gymnasium earlier this season.
 
 
 
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