Stevens Lifts FAMU Over SC State 83-82

Senior Brandon Riley

Box Score        ORANGEBURG, SC – Junior forward Amin Stevens driving layup with 0:01 seconds left, gave Florida A&M a, 83-82, victory over SC State Monday at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center.
        FAMU improves to 8-19 overall, 6-7 in the MEAC, while SC State falls to 5-22 overall, 0-13 in the league.
Stevens led the Rattlers with a team-high 18 points and 13 rebounds, while sophomore guard Avery Moore added 15 in the victory.
        Senior guard Brandon Riley led the Bulldogs with a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds, while teammate senior forward Omar Sanders recorded his eighth double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the loss.
         “I just told our guys tonight's effort for 40 minutes was the best we played all year long, said SC State head coach Tim Carter. They showed a tremendous amount of character and I am proud of them.”
        SC State led majority of the first-half building an eight point lead, 26-18, off a tip-in by junior Shaquil Barber at the 8:27 mark. FAMU cut the lead to five, 35-30, off a tip-in by junior forward Nathaniel Drayton with 4:44 left in the half.
        Sander's layup with 2:33 left in the first-half gave the Bulldogs a nine point lead, 42-33. The Rattlers rallied back to within five, 46-41, off a running jumper by sophomore guard Reggie Lewis with 0:20 seconds left. SC State led Florida A&M 46-41 at the half.
        Avery's 3-pointer at the 12:22 mark in the second-half gave FAMU their biggest lead of the night eight, 61-53. Riley scored on a layup, followed by a jumper by senior Joe Ikhinmwin cut the lead to one, 62-63 with 9:05 left.
       The Bulldogs took complete control of the game when freshman guard Devin Joint stole the ball for a monster dunk to go ahead, 78-75, with 3:25 left in regulation. A layup by senior guard Chris Watson with 1:24 left gave the Rattlers a three point lead, 81-78.
       Toombs hit one of two free-throws to give SC State an 82-81 lead with less than 00:51 seconds left. A missed 3-pointer by Moore with 00:05 seconds left, followed by a put back layup by Stevens sealed the 83-81 victory for the Rattlers.
       Carter stated, “Everyone that played in this game tonight laid it on the line for us to win. We just came up short in the end and I'm really hurting for these players.”
        The Bulldogs were also led by senior Joe Ikhinmwin with 11 points and six rebounds, while freshman guard Devin Joint chipped in 10 points and eight boards.
        SC State will return to action on Saturday when they host N.C. A&T State on “Senior Day”. Five Bulldog players will play their final game at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tipoff is 2 p.m. for the women, with the men beginning immediately after.
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