TALLAHASSEE, Fla. | The Florida A&M University men's basketball team will conclude its season at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at rival Bethune-Cookman in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) game at Moore Gymnasium.
 
Florida A&M, winners of six out of its last seven games, will look to end the season with three straight victories. The Rattlers are ineligible for the MEAC Basketball Tournament in Norfolk, Va. due to the one-year NCAA postseason ban. Meanwhile, Bethune-Cookman will be looking for an opportunity to lock up a fourth seed in the tournament with a win over FAMU on Thursday. A Wildcat loss and a Morgan State win would allow the Bears to lock up the fourth seed and give the Wildcats the fifth spot.
 
Florida A&M (12-14 overall, 10-5 MEAC) will look to make it two straight over Bethune-Cookman and will be seeking milestone win No. 100 in the series on Thursday. The Rattlers have won back-to-back games and boast a 12-5 record since Dec. 21. FAMU is coming off a 62-56 win over South Carolina State, which completed an undefeated mark at home. In the previous meeting against Bethune-Cookman this season, Evins Desir scored 16 points in a 73-67 victory, which secured its first home win over the Wildcats since the 2012-13 season. The Rattlers are seeking their first season sweep of the Wildcats since the 2006-07 season
 
Bethune-Cookman (15-14, 9-6) enters Thursday's game off a 71-68 overtime loss on Monday night at North Carolina Central. The Wildcats have been perhaps one of the hotter teams in the conference since the Feb. 1 loss to Florida A&M. The loss to the Eagles on Monday ended a three-game win streak as the Wildcats defeated Delaware State, South Carolina State and Norfolk State during that stretch. On Monday against North Carolina Central, Malik Maitland led three BCU players in double figures with 17 points, including five 3-pointers.
 
ABOUT BETHUNE-COOKMAN
> The Wildcats are averaging 74.7 points per game, while its opponents are averaging 72.3 points
> BCU is shooting 42.4 percent (755-of-1780) from the field and 70.7 percent (477-of-675) from the foul line
> Isaiah Bailey leads Bethune-Cookman's offense at 15.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, followed by Cletrell Pope with a double-double of 14.0 points and 11.8 boards per game
 
LAST TIME OUT
> Florida A&M is coming off a 62-56 victory over South Carolina State on Feb. 24
> Rod Melton, Jr. and MJ Randolph each poured in 15 points, while Bryce Moragne added 14 points in the win over the Bulldogs
> The Rattlers shot 35.8 percent (19-of-53) from the floor and 71.9 percent (23-of-32) from the foul line
> Florida A&M scored 22 points in the paint and 21 points off 21 South Carolina State 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 completed their first undefeated season in 31 years (1988-89)
> Florida A&M also has back-to-back MEAC winning season since the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons
 
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