TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M University men's basketball team will end its 2020 home campaign with a pair of Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games, beginning on Saturday against Norfolk State at the Al Lawson Center.
 
Florida A&M will put its six-game home perfect record on the line as the Rattlers play host to Norfolk State. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. on Saturday. On Monday, FAMU ends its home portion of its schedule against South Carolina State with an 8 p.m. tip-off from the Al Lawson Center.
 
Florida A&M (10-14 overall, 8-5 MEAC) will enter this weekend's matchup with the Spartans off an 81-71 road loss to Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday night. The loss ended FAMU's win streak at four and the Rattlers will be looking to halt a losing streak when Norfolk State comes to town on Saturday. Florida A&M has lost its last 17 games against Norfolk State and will also be looking to avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Spartans. After Saturday's match, FAMU will hold Senior Night on Monday when the Rattlers face off against South Carolina State. The Bulldogs are seeking the season sweep of FAMU.
 
Norfolk State (13-13, 9-2) enters Saturday's contest off an 80-60 victory on Monday night against Coppin State. The Spartans are currently one game ahead of North Carolina Central and North Carolina A&T State in the MEAC standings with five games remaining. Norfolk State is riding a three-game win streak and the lone two conference games came on Feb. 1 and Feb. 3 to NCCU and NCAT. The Spartans will be looking for their 18th straight win over the Rattlers and a season sweep of FAMU on Saturday.  
 
South Carolina State (11-13, 6-6) will visit Bethune-Cookman on Saturday before making the trip to Tallahassee, Fla. to take on Florida A&M. The Bulldogs have dropped their last two games, falling to Coppin State and Morgan State with identical 78-72 scores. South Carolina State has lost six out of its last seven games, with the lone win during that stretch coming on Feb. 10, a 100-86 victory over Delaware State. The Bulldogs are seeking the season sweep of the Rattlers after South Carolina State defeated FAMU, 81-65, on Jan. 18.
 
ABOUT NORFOLK STATE
> The Spartans are averaging 70.5 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 64.4 points
> NSU is shooting 42.2 percent (837-of-1509) from the field and 70.3 percent (355-of-505) from the foul line
> Jermaine Bishop leads Norfolk State's offense at 14.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, followed by Joe Bryant, Jr. at 12.3 points and 3.8 boards per game
 
ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE
> The Bulldogs are averaging 71.1 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 75.8 points
> SCSU is shooting 43.8 percent (587-of-1339) from the field and 75.9 percent (400-of-527) from the foul line
> Damani Applewhite leads South Carolina State's offense at 13.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, followed by Tashombe Riley at 10.0 points and 3.9 boards per game
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Florida A&M is coming off an 81-71 road loss to Maryland Eastern Shore on Monday, which snapped the Rattlers' four-game win streak
> MJ Randolph and Rod Melton, Jr. combined for 45 points in the loss
> The Rattlers shot 53.7 percent (29-of-54) from the floor and 56.3 percent (9-of-16) from the foul line
> Florida A&M scored 32 points in the paint and 20 points off 15 MDES turnovers
 
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
> The Rattlers have played six of their 22 games at home and have compiled a 6-0 mark at the Al Lawson Center
 
PROMOTIONS
> Florida A&M will hold Salute to Service during Saturday's game against Norfolk State
> Tickets for any active duty, retired or veterans will be $10 with identification 
> On Monday, FAMU wraps up its home campaign against South Carolina State with Senior Night
> For ticket or group rate information, call the FAMU ticket office at 850.599.3141 or email famuboxoffice@famu.edu
 
STREAMING
> Both games will be available to watch through the SideArm platform on famuathletics.com
 
AL LAWSON CENTER CLEAR BAG POLICY
In the interest of enhancing existing security measures at basketball games inside the Al Lawson Center, FAMU athletics has implemented a security policy regulating the size and type of bag that may be carried into the arena for all home Rattler games this season.
 
Fans are encouraged not to bring any type of bags inside the Al Lawson Center; however, each ticket holder is allowed one small clutch purse and one large clear bag, either a one-gallon clear Ziploc®-style storage bag or a 12"x6"x12" clear tote bag.
 
UP NEXT
After the two home games, Florida A&M wraps up the season with a road trip to Bethune-Cookman on March 5.
 
#Follow The Rattlers
For complete coverage of Florida A&M athletics, please follow the Rattlers on social media at @FAMUAthletics (Twitter), /FAMUAth (Facebook), @famuathletics (Instagram) or visit the official home of Florida A&M Athletics at famuathletics.com.