Dec. 1, 2007

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Bethune-Cookman University used a strong second half and hot shooting to drive past rival Florida A&M University, 62-46 in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball contest on Saturday evening at Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach, Fla.

B-CU (2-4, 1-0 MEAC) had much to be excited about on Saturday as they erased a three-game losing skid to the Rattlers of FAMU (2-5, 0-1 MEAC). A different face in the form of Eugene Harris led the Rattlers, but the same intense ball game presumed in this historic rivalry between Florida's only Division I HBCU institutions.

The Wildcats trailed by two with 1:24 left in the first half on consecutive made free throws from FAMU's Oliver Prince. That's when Jimmy Hudson took over for the `Cats.

Hudson scored the final five points of the half, including a three-pointer from the right corner with three seconds remaining on the clock to give B-CU a 28-25 advantage at the break.

In the second half, B-CU started out the stanza on a 20-8 run that put them out to a 48-33 lead with just over nine minutes remaining in the contest. Things were really smoking on all cylinders for the `Cats as freshman point guard Joey Woods hit two (2) three-point baskets in the second half. Those were Woods' only three-pointers made all season long as he is a versatile, true point guard.

The lead for B-CU, despite a valiant effort from Prince who contributed the orange and green with a team-high 14 points, never dipped below double-figures the rest of the way. A breakaway dunk by FAMU's Akini Akini was not enough to quiet the raucous crowd of 3,116--the second consecutive sell-out for B-CU, as they were on their feet in the victory for the `Cats.

For the second time in as many games, B-CU shot over 50 percent (51.1) from the field, and finished with fewer turnovers than their opponents. FAMU collected 21, while B-CU amassed just 17.

FAMU was led on the night by Prince with 14 points and five rebounds. The normally explosive Lamar Twitty was limited to just six points on 3-of-8 shooting from the field, while teammate Leslie "L.C." Robinson collected nine points and four boards.

B-CU was led by Hudson's season-high performance of 20 points and two assists. Also in double-figures was John Holmes with 10 points and 10 rebounds--his first double-double of the year, and his fourth double-digit scoring output.

Woods collected a season-high eight points and handed out two assists.

The Wildcats will host Stetson on Monday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m. inside Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach. Stetson knocked off the Wildcats, 62-51 back on Nov. 21 at the Edmunds Center in DeLand, Fla.