Rattlers in Jackson for a pivotal SWAC game Thursday night

1/22/2025 7:06:00 PM

JACKSON, Miss. –– The Florida A&M Rattlers (6-10, 3-2 SWAC) will travel to Jackson, Mississippi to face the Jackson State Tigers (6-10, 4-1 SWAC) in a key conference matchup Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

The Rattlers enter the contest having won back-to-back games, including an impressive 84-50 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff in their last outing. FAMU has found its offensive rhythm in conference play, averaging 71.8 points per game against SWAC opponents while holding teams to 63.8 points.

Leading the way for Florida A&M is senior guard Cheyenne McEvans, averaging 13.7 points per game. The Rattlers have also gotten strong contributions from Sydney Hendrix (11.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg) and Sabou Gueye (10.5 ppg, 11.4 ppg in SWAC play).

Jackson State presents a challenging matchup, led by guard Taleah Dilworth, who averages 15.3 points per game while shooting an efficient 46.6% from the field. The Tigers have been particularly tough at home this season, with a 2-0 conference record in their building.

Keys to victory for the Rattlers:
- Controlling the boards: FAMU has outrebounded conference opponents by nearly 10 rebounds per game (40.0 to 30.2)
- Limiting turnovers: The Rattlers average 22.9 turnovers per game, which has been their biggest weakness
- Maintaining defensive pressure: FAMU forces 11.1 steals per game and will need to create transition opportunities

This game has significant implications in the SWAC standings, as Jackson State currently sits at 4-1 in conference play while Florida A&M is right behind at 3-2. A road win would pull the Rattlers even with the Tigers in the loss column.

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