CLEMSON, S.C. –– The Florida A&M Rattlers (1-4) face a tough road test as they travel to take on the Clemson Tigers (6-1) on Friday night at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Rattlers will look to bounce back after a challenging start to their season, including several road losses to Power 4 opponents.

FAMU's offense has been led by Sterling Young and Milton Matthews, averaging 13.0 and 11.0 points per game. Matthews has been the team's primary three-point threat, attempting 41 threes through five games. The Rattlers will need both players to have strong performances against a Clemson defense, allowing just 63.6 points per game.

The biggest challenge for FAMU will be containing Clemson's efficient offense, particularly Chase Hunter (16.4 PPG) and Ian Schieffelin (13.6 PPG, 11.1 RPG). The Tigers are shooting 47.3% from the field and an impressive 40.4% from three-point range, which ranks first in the ACC.

Rebounding could be a key factor, as FAMU has struggled on the boards with a -5.4 rebounding margin this season. The Rattlers will need improved production from their frontcourt players like Shaqir O'Neal (4.4 RPG) and Jamine Charles (4.6 RPG) to compete with Clemson's strong interior presence.

One bright spot for the Rattlers has been their three-point shooting volume - they're attempting 28.6 threes per game, which ranks first in the SWAC. However, they'll need to improve their 31.5% accuracy from long range to keep pace with Clemson's potent offense.

The Rattlers are looking for their first road win of the season, while Clemson enters on a three-game winning streak and is undefeated at home (4-0). FAMU will need to limit turnovers (currently averaging 15.2 per game) and generate more defensive stops to pull the upset.

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