In a shocking turn of events, Florida A&M pulled off a significant upset at the Al Lawson Center, defeating Southern 67-59. The Rattlers, ranked 315th in the nation, took down the Jaguars, who sat at 288th, in a non-conference matchup that will surely send ripples through the college basketball landscape. This stunning victory marks a major upset, as Florida A&M was not expected to come out on top against their opponents.
The game got off to a slow start, with Florida A&M leading 30-25 at halftime. However, the Rattlers came out strong in the second half, outscoring Southern 37-34 to secure the win. Tyler Shirley was the star of the show for Florida A&M, scoring 17 points and grabbing 7 rebounds to lead his team to victory. He was supported by Miles Ndalama, who added 13 points and 6 rebounds, and Micah Octave, who chipped in with 12 points and 8 rebounds.
Despite the loss, Southern's Michael Jacobs had a standout performance, scoring 20 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. DaMariee Jones also contributed 11 points and 7 rebounds for the Jaguars. However, it was not enough to overcome the determined Rattlers, who played with a sense of urgency and desperation.
The significance of this upset cannot be overstated. Florida A&M's win will be a major boost to their resume, particularly given that it was a Quadrant 4 game for both teams. The Rattlers' ability to rise to the occasion and take down a team ranked higher than them will surely catch the attention of tournament selectors. On the other hand, Southern's loss will be a tough pill to swallow, as they were expected to come out on top in this matchup.
With this win, Florida A&M improves to 8-10 on the season, while Southern falls to 7-12. While the Rattlers still have a long way to go in terms of their tournament chances, this upset victory will undoubtedly give them a much-needed confidence boost. As for Southern, they must regroup and refocus in order to get their season back on track.
The resume implications of this result are clear: Florida A&M has taken a significant step forward, while Southern has taken a step back. The Rattlers' ability to win a Quadrant 4 game will be a major feather in their cap, and they want to build on this momentum as they move forward. Meanwhile, Southern must work hard to recover from this setback and prove themselves as a formidable opponent in the world of college basketball.