Saturday's win snapped a four-game slide for the visiting Rattlers (5-15, 3-4 MEAC), and gives them a bit of momentum headed into their Monday night rematch with first place Morgan State at Hill Fieldhouse in Baltimore. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

The Rattlers had five players score in double figures paced by Derrick Dandridge and Desmond Williams with 17 points apiece. Dandridge also led FAMU with nine rebounds. Marcus Barham added 16 points, cashing in four three-pointers, while Justin Ravenel and Nasir Core each finished with 10 points.

FAMU trailed 32-26 at the half and by eight in the early going of the second half, before setting off on a 20-13 run to take a 46-45 lead on a Marcus Barham three-pointer with 12:07 left.

The Hornets regained the lead at 47-46 on a pair of foul shots by DeAndre Haywood with 9:30 left, but back-to-back baskets by Desmond Williams and Nasir Core, followed by two free throws by Core with 7:28 left, staked the Rattlers to a 53-47 lead.

Williams slammed a dunk off an assist from Barham for an 11-point lead at 59-48 at the 5:19 mark, before Derrick Dandridge's layup with 4:44 left put the Rattlers up 60-48.

The key to the Rattlers win Saturday was the overcoming of an old nemesis – free throw shooting, as FAMU hit 23 of 24 charity tosses in the second half, building their lead to as much as 15 points, while effectively holding off the Hornets down the stretch.

FAMU finished the night 25 of 30 from the line, and their 50 percent floor shooting (14 of 28) in the second half helped them pull away from DSU.

Dana Raysor led the Hornets (5-17, 2-5 MEAC) with a game-high 23 points, while Kavon Waller and DeAndre Haywood added 15 points each.

WHAT'S NEXT: FAMU heads to Baltimore to face off against first place Morgan State on Monday (7:30) at Hill Fieldhouse. The Bears escaped the Lawson Center with a 62-59 decision the previous meeting between the two schools on Jan. 10.

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