Kamron Reaves and Johnny Brown both scored in double-digits as the Florida A&M men's basketball team suffered a season opening 65-56 loss to Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday night.
The Rattlers (0-1) couldn't muster enough offense to overcome a streaky FGCU (1-0) squad.
Reaves contributed 15 points, going 5-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-8 from behind the arch, while Johnny Brown, who made his Rattler debut, poured in 13 points with eight rebounds and three blocks.
As a team, Florida A&M went 23-of-50 (46%) from the floor.
FGCU was paced offensively by Caleb Catto and Dakota Rivers. Catto scored 13 points with four rebounds and two assists, while Rivers added 11 points and four rebounds.
The Eagles shot 56.9%, going 29-of-51 on field goal attempts.
How it Happened
The first half started as a back and forth affair with FAMU and FGCU trading blows throughout the period.
Senior forward, DJ Jones, scored the first points of the season for Rattlers, draining a mid-range jumper from the left wing with 19:45 left in the first half to give FAMU an early 2-0 lead.
FGCU began to stretch out with a 7-0 run sparked by a Cyrus Largie three-pointer with 6:32 left in the first frame.
The Eagles would build the biggest lead of the half on the strength of back-to-back buckets by Jalen Warren. MJ Randolph answered back with a quick bucket with 52 seconds left in the period to pull the Rattlers within six.
Brown ended the first half scoring with a lay-up to pull the Rattlers within four and cut the Eagle lead to 32-28 at the break.
In the second half, FGCU began to find its rhythm. The Eagles built a 44-32 lead with 13:45 left to play.
Reaves began a 9-2 run, splashing a deep three with 12:56 remaining in the final period. The Rattlers cut the Eagle lead to 48-41, pulling within striking distance with 10:08 left to play, but that would be as close as FAMU would get to FGCU, as Eagles would outscore Florida A&M 17-15 the rest of the way.
Inside the Numbers
> FGCU improved to 2-0 all-time against Florida A&M
> FAMU forced 23 turnovers
> FAMU finished with 14 points in the paint, 16 points off turnovers and 13 bench points
> FGCU dominated the post, scoring 40 points in the paint, 23 bench points and 18 points off turnovers.
> FGCU led for a total of 34:55 seconds
> FAMU shot 31.6% (6-19) from three-point range, while FGCU shot 28.6% from behind the arch (6-21)
Up Next
Florida A&M travels to Athens, Ga to take on the Georgia Bulldogs on Nov. 29. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. on the SEC Network.
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