Florida A&M

Rattlers seek upset at #20 Florida Gators

11/18/2024 12:52:00 PM

GAINESVILLE, Fla. –– The Florida A&M Rattlers (0-3) continue their challenging road swing Tuesday night against the #20 Florida Gators (4-0) at the O'Connell Center in Gainesville.

SCOUTING THE MATCHUP
The Gators present FAMU's toughest test yet, averaging 88.0 points while holding opponents to 69.8 per game. Florida excels on both ends, shooting 50.6% from the field (44th nationally) and averaging 6.0 blocks per game (24th nationally). The Rattlers enter struggling offensively, shooting just 36.1% (344th) while allowing 97.0 points per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sterling Young leads FAMU at 12.0 points per game, while Milton Matthews adds 8.3 points and 2.0 three-pointers per contest. The Rattlers face a tough matchup against Florida's Walter Clayton Jr. (18.8 PPG on 55.3% shooting) and Will Richard (13.8 PPG, SEC-leading 3.0 steals per game).

Tyler Shirley (7.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG) anchors FAMU's interior against a Florida frontcourt featuring Alex Condon (13.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG) and Sam Alexis (10.0 PPG, 5.3 RPG).

KEYS TO THE GAME
1. Ball Security: FAMU's -9.7 turnover margin (354th nationally) must improve against Florida's aggressive defense
2. Three-Point Shooting: The Rattlers attempt 27.7 threes per game (71st) but convert just 27.7% - need better efficiency
3. Interior Defense: Florida outrebounds opponents by 9.8 per game while shooting 50.6% - FAMU must protect the paint
4. Fast Start: The Rattlers have been outscored 150-72 in the first halves this season

Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET at the O'Connell Center. The game marks FAMU's fourth straight road contest against a high-major opponent.

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