Dec. 10, 2005

Final Stats

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Alabama State had four players score in double figures but could not hold a double digit, second half advantage in falling to Florida A&M 74-67 at Gaither Gymnasium. The Rattlers outscored the Hornets 16-4 in the final 4:48 to send ASU (1-7) to its fifth consecutive defeat.

Behind the hot 3-points shooting of Cedric Mitchell and Andrew Hayles, Bama State opened a lead as 14 points in the first half. Mitchell made four triples and Hayles added three - all of his in the first 4:38 of the game - as the Hornets quickly opened a 10-point lead.

Of the Hornets' 11 first-half field goals, nine were 3-pointers and the Hornets never trailed, going into the half with a 36-24 lead.

But the second half saw FAMU get hot from beyond the 3-point arc. Jon Mason drained four treys in the final 20 minutes to help the Rattlers along the comeback trail. His shooting seemed to spark their offense, turning a putrid first-half shooting performance around by shooting over 58 percent from the field in the second half.

The Hornets hung tough, still holding a 63-58 lead after two Alexander Oliver free throws with 4:48 to go in the game. But ASU would make only one field goal the rest of the game, and when Mason connected on another 3-pointer with 1:52 remaining, FAMU took a 68-65 lead, one it would not relinquish.

Tony Tate scored a game-high 17 points off the bench to lead Florida A&M while Mason (15) and Rome Sanders also scored in double figures for the Rattlers. Mitchell scored 14 off the bench to lead ASU, which plays at Troy on Thursday at 7 p.m. Hayles and LaMarquis Blake each added 12 and Oliver chipped in with 10 for the Hornets.