Alabama State Hornets Dominate Florida A&M Rattlers 79-66

ALABAMA STATE, Ala. — In a decisive showing on Saturday, the Alabama State Hornets defeated the Florida A&M Rattlers 79-66, extending their winning momentum and improving their Southeastern Conference outlook.

Alabama State (15-5, 6-2 SEC) controlled the tempo from the opening tip, leveraging strong perimeter shooting and interior dominance. Cameron Palesse led the Hornets with 18 points, including four three-pointers, while Jerquarius Stanback added 16 points and seven rebounds, recording two key blocks that disrupted Florida A&M’s offensive rhythm. Micah Simpson chipped in 14 points, including two deep triples that helped Alabama State maintain a double-digit lead in the second half.

Florida A&M (12-8, 4-4 SEC) relied heavily on Tyler Shirley, who scored 19 points and contributed seven assists. Kaleb Washington added 14 points, including three three-pointers, and Micah Octave recorded a tip-in and layup for six points. Despite several early runs that briefly narrowed the Hornets’ lead, the Rattlers struggled to contain Alabama State’s perimeter shooting and transition offense.

The Hornets started strong with a 12-3 run in the first five minutes, capitalizing on Rattlers’ turnovers. Alabama State shot 48 percent from the field overall and made 8 of 15 three-pointers. Florida A&M countered with 36 percent shooting, but could not overcome repeated turnovers and missed opportunities at the rim, finishing the game with 15 turnovers.

This victory gives Alabama State a 4-1 record in their last five conference games and marks their third consecutive home win against Florida A&M. Historically, Alabama State has held a dominant edge in head-to-head matchups, winning six of the last seven meetings. The Hornets are now undefeated in games this season when scoring at least 75 points.

Next steps for Alabama State include a high-stakes matchup against Prairie View A&M on Wednesday, a game that could solidify their top three positioning in the conference standings. Florida A&M will look to regroup at home against Jackson State next Saturday, aiming to correct defensive lapses and improve ball control.

With strong shooting and defensive discipline, Alabama State continues to position itself as a contender in the SEC. Analysts note that maintaining consistent three point accuracy and minimizing turnovers will be crucial for the Hornets’ pursuit of a conference title and potential postseason berth.