Wildcats Edge Rattlers: Bethune-Cookman Downs FAMU in SWAC Rivalry Thriller

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In a game broadcast live on HBCU GO, featuring high-flying slams, flared tempers, and a frantic final minute, Bethune-Cookman University outlasted arch-rival Florida A&M 87-83 on Saturday night.

The victory completed a sweep of the doubleheader in Daytona Beach, following a thrilling opening contest by the women’s teams. From the opening tip, the atmosphere inside the arena was electric, reflecting the weight of one of the most storied rivalries in HBCU sports.

Tyler Andrews set the tone early for the Wildcats. The junior forward ignited the home crowd in the first half with a ferocious put-back dunk, followed immediately by a fadeaway turnaround jumper on the next possession.

The Rattlers refused to be intimidated. FAMU’s Miles Ndalama answered the call shortly after with a power dunk of his own, keeping the score tight at 15-12 in favor of the Rattlers midway through the first half.

However, Bethune-Cookman’s Jakobi Heady took over the momentum. Heady pulled up from the logo to bury a deep 3-pointer before capitalizing on a FAMU turnover with a fastbreak slam that capped a 9-0 run. The burst put the Wildcats up 21-12 and forced a Rattler timeout. Heady would finish the night with 18 points.

As the intensity peaked, so did the friction. Late in the first half, a fastbreak layup resulted in a couple of players becoming tangled up on the floor. The physical play caused the Wildcats' bench to spill onto the court just before the half, resulting in a technical foul. The sequence sent FAMU to the line for two free throws to open the second half, narrowing the gap in a game that had the energy of a heavyweight fight.

The second half remained a see-saw affair. With just over nine minutes remaining, a thunderous tomahawk slam by Morris Aterio gave Bethune-Cookman a 70-66 lead, sending Moore Gymnasium into a frenzy.

Andrews, who finished with a team-leading 7 rebounds and tied with Aterio for the team-high with 20 points, proved to be the stabilizing force for the Wildcats. Every time FAMU threatened to take the lead, Andrews responded with a pivotal three-pointer or a contested board.

The drama reached its peak in the closing minutes. Leading 81-74 with four minutes to go, the Wildcats saw their lead evaporate as FAMU orchestrated a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to 81-79 by the two-minute mark.

With less than a minute remaining and BCU clinging to an 83-81 lead, the Wildcats were sent to the charity stripe. After making the first and missing the second, FAMU grabbed the rebound and pushed the pace. A missed layup by the Rattlers resulted in a foul, and FAMU calmly sank both free throws to make it 84-83.

With 6.2 seconds left, Heady was fouled and sent to the line under immense pressure. He drained both free throws to extend the lead to three.

The game was ultimately sealed on the defensive end. On the ensuing inbound, Seneca Willoughby anticipated the pass, diving for a steal that effectively ended FAMU’s hopes. Willoughby hit one of two free throws to push the lead to four. A desperate, last-second heave by the Rattlers sailed out of bounds with 0.9 seconds left, allowing the Wildcats to dribble out the clock.

Bethune-Cookman aims to carry momentum into another home double-header this Saturday. The Wildcats will host Grambling State women at 3:00 p.m. and men at 5:30 p.m. in what is expected to be another high-stakes SWAC showdown.