Florida A&M Dominates Mississippi Valley State 62-48

Florida A&M's Jaquan Sanders put on a show at the R.W. Harrison HPER Complex, leading his team to a 62-48 victory over Mississippi Valley State. Sanders' impressive all-around performance, which included 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists, was the catalyst for the Rattlers' dominant win. The victory marked a strong road performance for Florida A&M, who improved their record to 7-9.

The Rattlers came out firing, taking a commanding 35-17 lead at halftime. Mississippi Valley State struggled to find their rhythm, with their top scorer Michael James managing just 5 points in the first half. James would go on to finish with 14 points and 5 rebounds, but it wasn't enough to overcome the deficit. Xzayvion Childress also chipped in with 14 points for the Delta Devils, but their offense was unable to keep pace with Florida A&M's balanced attack.

In the second half, Mississippi Valley State showed some signs of life, outscoring the Rattlers 31-27. However, the damage had already been done, and Florida A&M's lead proved insurmountable. The Rattlers' Micah Octave and Anquan Boldin Jr. provided key support to Sanders, scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively.

CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Florida A&M winning by 10 points, and while the predicted score was off, the margin of victory was spot on. The Rattlers' actual margin of 14 points exceeded expectations, a reflection of their strong team effort.

This game was classified as a Quadrant 4 matchup for both teams, with Mississippi Valley State currently ranked 365th in the net rankings and Florida A&M sitting at 301st. While the win won't significantly boost Florida A&M's tournament resume, it does help to pad their win total and provides a much-needed confidence boost. For Mississippi Valley State, the loss drops them to 1-19, and they want to regroup and find ways to improve their performance.

The Rattlers' victory serves as a reflection of their ability to take care of business against lesser opponents. With Sanders leading the charge, Florida A&M has the potential to make some noise in their conference. As the season wears on, the Rattlers want to build on this performance and make a push for a stronger tournament resume. For now, they can take pride in a dominant road win, one that showcases their growth and potential.