TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M University men's basketball team returns to the court this weekend with a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games as the Rattlers visit Howard and Norfolk State.
 
Florida A&M visits the Nation's Capital on Saturday with a 4 p.m. contest against Howard at Burr Gymnasium and will wrap up the weekend with a nationally televised game on Monday against Norfolk State. Tip-off against the Spartans is set for 7 p.m. from Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall and will be broadcasted live on ESPNU.
 
Florida A&M (5-12 overall, 3-3 MEAC) went 1-1 last week, but remained perfect at home this season with a 66-57 victory over North Carolina Central. The Rattlers are looking to match its season-long win streak on Saturday at Howard as FAMU has won two straight twice. Florida A&M got a 17-point performance from Nasir Core and Rod Melton, Jr. as the Rattlers avoided the season sweep of NCCU on Monday. FAMU will be looking for its first conference road win of the season.
 
Howard (2-18, 0-5) comes into Saturday's matchup off an 89-75 non-conference loss to Yale on Monday. The Bison have dropped eight straight, with the last win coming on Dec. 18, a 105-47 victory over Regent. On Monday against Yale, Kyle Foster came off the bench to provide 19 points, while Charles Williams added 16 points. The Bison shot 42.2 percent from the field and 68.8 percent from the foul line. Howard is looking for its second home win of the season.
 
Norfolk State (8-11, 4-0) will play host to South Carolina State on Saturday before playing host to Florida A&M on Monday. The Spartans are currently riding a four-game win streak, with the last loss coming on Dec. 29, an 81-65 defeat by Stony Brook. Norfolk State is coming off a 65-52 win on Saturday at home against Maryland Eastern Shore. Tyrese Jenkins led the Spartans with 19 points, while Jermaine Bishop registered 17. NSU is 5-1 at the Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall, with the lone loss coming on Dec. 1 to Niagara, 65-61.
 
ABOUT HOWARD
> The Bison are averaging 68.8 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 82.1 points
> HU is shooting 40.6 percent (491-of-1209) from the field and 68.0 percent (257-of-378) from the foul line
> Charles Williams leads Howard's offense at 18.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, followed by Wayne Bristol, Jr. at 10.6 points and 4.1 boards per game
 
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
> The Spartans are averaging 68.7 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 64.6 points
> NSU is shooting 41.5 percent (455-of-1097) from the field and 71.2 percent (255-of-358) from the foul line
> Jermaine Bishop leads Norfolk State's offense at 13.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, followed by Joe Bryant, Jr. at 12.5 points and 3.4 boards per game
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Florida A&M is coming off a 66-57 victory over North Carolina Central
> Nasir Core and Rod Melton, Jr. paced FAMU with 17 points as the Rattlers avoided the season sweep of the Eagles
> The Rattlers shot 37.7 percent (23-of-61) from the floor and 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from the foul line
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
> Florida A&M defeated and stunned Iowa State, 70-68, on Dec. 31
> The win over Iowa State gave FAMU its first-ever win over a Power 5 opponent
> Florida A&M head coach Robert McCullum picked up his first signature win as Rattler head coach on Dec. 31
 
UP NEXT
After the two-game road trip, Florida A&M will come home to play three straight contests at the Al Lawson Center, beginning with a Feb. 1 matchup against rival Bethune-Cookman. The Rattlers will end their homestand against Howard (Feb. 8) and North Carolina A&T State (Feb. 10).
 
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