TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M University men's basketball team concludes its three-game homestand this weekend as the Rattlers will play host to Howard and North Carolina A&T State in Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) games.
 
Florida A&M will wrap up its two-game series at 4 p.m. with Howard on Saturday at the Al Lawson Center. The Rattlers end the weekend with an 8 p.m. tip-off against North Carolina A&T State on Monday.
 
Florida A&M (7-13 overall, 5-4 MEAC) was off on Monday as the Rattlers are coming off a 73-67 home victory over Bethune-Cookman last Saturday. It was the first home win over the Wildcats since the 2012-13 season as Evins Desir paced five players in double figures with 16 points. The Rattlers are a perfect 5-0 at the Al Lawson Center this season and will be looking for the series sweep of Howard and a split with North Carolina A&T State.
 
Howard (2-22, 0-9) enters Saturday's contest on a 12-game losing streak, with the last win coming on Dec. 5, a 94-91 victory over rival Hampton. The Bison are coming off a 64-56 home loss on Monday to Coppin State as Charles Williams led the way with 23 points and five rebounds. This will be the second meeting between Howard and FAMU as the Rattlers won the Jan. 25 contest, 87-73.
 
North Carolina A&T State (12-12, 8-1) is currently in the drivers seat atop the MEAC standings and is riding a five-game winning streak and has won eight out of its last nine conference games. The Aggies will visit Bethune-Cookman on Saturday before making the trip to Tallahassee, Fla., to face off against the Rattlers. North Carolina A&T State will be seeking a series sweep of Florida A&M as the Aggies held off the Rattlers, 97-90 in overtime, on Jan. 6.
 
ABOUT HOWARD
> The Bison are averaging 69.7 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 81.8 points
> HU is shooting 41.2 percent (596-of-1446) from the field and 69.0 percent (303-of-439) from the foul line
> Charles Williams leads Howard's offense at 18.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, followed by Wayne Bristol, Jr. at 11.7 points and 3.9 boards per game
 
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE
> The Aggies are averaging 71.0 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 72.1 points
> NCAT is shooting 41.8 percent (604-of-1445) from the field and 61.7 percent (359-of-582) from the foul line
> Ronald Jackson leads North Carolina A&T State's offense at 14.2 points and 10.3 rebounds per game, followed by Fred Cleveland at 9.6 points and 1.9 boards per game
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Florida A&M is coming off a 73-67 home victory over rival Bethune-Cookman last Saturday
> Evins Desir led five FAMU players in double figures with 16 points
> The Rattlers shot 50.0 percent (26-of-52) from the floor and 63.0 percent (17-of-27) 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
 
PROMOTIONS
> Florida A&M will hold SGA Appreciation Day during Saturday's game against Howard
> Monday's game against North Carolina A&T State will be Think Pink/Go Red Chamber of Commerce 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 Monday's home game against North Carolina A&T State, Florida A&M will take to the road to visit Delaware State (Feb. 15) and Maryland Eastern Shore (Feb. 17).
 
#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.