TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –– Florida A&M Athletics plans to honor the 1978 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) men's basketball championship team this Saturday, Feb. 25, at halftime of the men's basketball game versus Grambling State.
 
It was 45 years ago when the Rattlers played their final season as a Division II school and left with an exclamation point, beating Lane 84-78 to win back-to-back SIAC championships and 12th overall. 
 
The Rattlers, coached by Ajac Triplett, finished the season 23-6 (10-2), their tenth 20+ win season in program history at the time. Triplett and the Rattlers opened the season up on the road in Montgomery, Alabama, falling to Alabama State 78-69, but would go on to win 12 of the next 16 to put their record at 12-5. Three of those games were versus Bethune-Cookman, which the Rattlers won the first two 86-75 and 77-73 (OT). The fifth loss came against the Wildcats, in a one-point loss on the road, but the Rattlers would go on an 11-game win streak after that, including an 87-73 win versus the Wildcats in the regular season finale. The Rattlers traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, for the SIAC Tournament and opened with a 77-71 win versus Tuskegee, followed by an 86-74 win versus Albany State to play Lane in the championship game. The Rattlers would beat Lane 84-78 to claim their second consecutive SIAC championship after beating Bethune-Cookman the year before. After winning the SIAC championship, the Rattlers traveled to Orlando, Florida, for the NCAA Division II Tournament as they played in the South Region. The Rattlers won the opening round game 72-69 versus Livingston before falling to regional host Florida Tech 85-78 in the Sweet 16.
 
Senior center Clemon Johnson led the Rattlers, averaging 17.5 points per game and 15.3 rebounds per game. Johnson went on to be drafted by the Portland Trailblazers with the 44th pick in the 1978 NBA Draft and played 11 seasons in the NBA with stops in Portland, Indiana, Philadelphia, and Seattle. Johnson was a member of the 1983 NBA Championship team with the Philadelphia 76ers. 
 
The Rattlers had three other players average 10+ points per game on the 1978 team. They were Pete Taylor (11.5), Curtis Brooks (11.2), and Paul Grady (10.5). Other team members included Cedric Adams, Spider Barry, George Carbart, Henry Clark, Punchy Gaines, Mike Holloway, Kenneth Hubbard, Tony Johnson, Ronald Lang, Varrick Logan, Clarence Martin, Billy Myers, Kenneth Robinson, Jeff Samuels, and Ron West. Other non-players on the team were trainer Percyll Pratt, statistician Cheryl Smith, manager Teddy Thompson, and bus driver Frank.
 
Fans can find the final 1978 cumulative statistics report and season results here. Fans may purchase tickets to Saturday's game versus Grambling State at famuathletics.com/tickets.
 
The Rattlers will also honor the seniors for women's basketball, cheer, and men's basketball on Saturday, Feb. 25, versus Grambling State.
 
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