COLOMBIA, SC (FAMU Athletics) – Freshman guard Jalen Speer put on a show on Saturday afternoon, setting his career record with 21 points in Florida A&M’s victory (1-6, 0-0 MEAC) for the South Carolina (2-2, 0-0 SEC) 78-71 at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, SC
Speer made 7 of 12 pitches and added three rebounds, two assists and two steals. The freshman from Gainesville, Florida, also scored 3 out of 5 in the three-point streak.
Three other Rattlers scored in double digits.
Kamron Reaves scored 11 points with three assists and two rebounds. MJ Randolph finished with 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. DJ Jones contributed 10 points with three rebounds.
South Carolina was joined by junior guard AJ Lawson, who contributed 25 points from 9 out of 16 shots to go along with five rebounds, two steals and a block.
Justin Minaya scored a double-double for the Gamecocks, scoring 10 points with 10 rebounds, two assists and a block.
For the game, FAMU hit 45.6% of the field goal attempts (26 of 57), while South Carolina reached 41.4% of the field (29 of 70).
The difference in the game boiled down to second chance points and offensive rebounds. South Carolina had 14 offensive rebounds and scored 14 second chance points, compared with just five second chance points and six offensive rebounds for the Rattlers.
How did this happen
Kamron Reaves had a hot hand at the start, scoring seven of FAMU’s first 11 points in the competition, opening an 11-6 lead with 16:50 remaining in the first half.
With South Carolina winning 13-12 with 14:56 remaining in the opening period, Jalen Speer put the Rattlers back on top with the three-pointer, generating an 8-0 run that gave the Rattlers a 20-point lead. -13 with 13:56 left to go in half.
FAMU maintained the lead until the 7:43 mark, when Trae Hannibal hit a three-point ball to tie the contest at 28.
The Rattlers were behind the Gamecocks by 38-35 at halftime.
In the second half, South Carolina built a quick 44-39 lead, but the Rattlers recovered and tied the game at 44 with a three-point Johnny Brown with 15:45 left.
With FAMU losing to South Carolina 59-53, 11:01 to the second period, Speer decided to solve the problem on his own. Speer had a one-man 8-0 run, putting the Rattlers back on top, 61-59, with 9:24 remaining in the competition.
However, the Gamecocks took the lead definitely with 4:16 left, on a tray from Jermaine Couisnard to give South Carolina a 71-69 lead.
Inside the numbers
Inside the numbers
> FAMU shot 45.6 percent of the field (26 of 57)
> South Carolina hit 41.4 percent of the field (29 of 70)
> FAMU shot 29.6 percent in the three-point range (8 of 27)
> South Carolina hit 40.9 percent in the three-point range (9 of 22)
> FAMU hit 13 out of 19 free-throw attempts (68.4 percent)
> South Carolina hit 12 out of 20 free-throw attempts (60 percent)
> South Carolina surpassed FAMU 43-36.
> South Carolina had 14 offensive rebounds compared to FAMU’s six offensive boards
> South Carolina scored 14 second chance points compared to FAMU’s five second chance points
> FAMU committed 18 turnovers while forcing 11 Gamecock turnovers.
> FAMU and South Carolina scored 11 points on turnovers.
> South Carolina surpassed FAMU 40-26 in points in the painting.
> FAMU and South Carolina banks scored 15 points.
Next
Florida A&M faces MEAC champion North Carolina Central at the Al Lawson Center in Tallahassee on 9 and 10 January. This will be the opening of the home and the conference for the Rattlers. Tip is scheduled for 2pm