TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Wildcats came up short in a back-and-forth game against Florida A&M 81-77 at the Al Lawson Center.

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1^st Half
Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M were locked into a tightly contested first half, with neither team able to gain much separation. The largest lead for either team was just four points.

The Wildcats shot 46.2% overall while holding the Rattlers to 38.2%. But FAMU was the better team on the glass, out-rebounding B-CU 23-15.

Bethune-Cookman did not make a three-pointer and missed four free-throws in the frame. Ariel Bland led the way with 10 points, while also grabbing seven rebounds.

2^nd Half
The second half picked up right where the first half left off as both teams traded the lead back-and-forth.

B-CU was able to take its largest lead of the game with 7:29 remaining after a dunk by Ariel Bland. But the Rattlers quickly fought back to tie the game at 65.

With 2:51 to go, Daniel Rouzan converted an and-one opportunity to give the Wildcats a five point lead, but once again FAMU responded. They went on an 8-0 scoring run to retake the lead.

After a missed free-throw by the Rattlers, B-CU had a chance to tie or take the lead with just 11 seconds left. Jordan Johnson fired off a three-pointer on the other end, but it didn't fall and Florida A&M held on to win.

The Wildcats shot better than the Rattlers in the second but struggled to take care of the basketball. They finished the half with eight compared to just four for FAMU.
 

• Jakobi Heady led the Wildcats with 19 points.
• Jaquan Sanders led the Rattlers with 18 points.
• Ariel Bland recorded a double-double with a career-high 14 points and 10 rebounds.
• Bethune-Cookman was out-rebounded by FAMU 38-29.
• B-CU finished with 16 turnovers to just nine for the Rattlers.
• The Rattlers made four three-pointers than the Wildcats.

Bethune-Cookman will head to Atlanta for the SWAC tournament as the conference's number one seed. The Cats' first opponent is TBD.

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