Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Dominate Alabama A&M Bulldogs in Early Season Showdown

In a commanding first half, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats surged past the Alabama A&M Bulldogs, establishing a 42-32 lead at halftime in a game that could signal a strong start to their season.

Bethune-Cookman, leveraging aggressive defense and sharp perimeter shooting, opened the game with a flurry of turnovers forced on Alabama A&M, including steals by Tyler Andrews and Seneca Willoughby. Daniel Rouzan, Arterio Morris, and Jakobi Heady led the scoring, combining for 29 of the Wildcats’ first-half points. Arterio Morris’s three triples and Ariel Bland’s precise assists highlighted a balanced offensive attack. The Wildcats’ efficiency from beyond the arc put them in double digits ahead early, reaching a peak win probability of 97.9 percent midway through the first half.

Alabama A&M struggled to maintain possession early, missing multiple field goals and three-point attempts while seeing James Graham III and Koron Davis commit turnovers. Despite this, the Bulldogs countered with key contributions from Koron Davis, Sami Pissis, and PJ Eason, who combined for 24 points in the first half. James Graham III also made a series of critical free throws to help trim the deficit.

Historically, Bethune-Cookman has shown strength against in-conference opponents, with this first-half performance reflecting their season-long defensive intensity. Their ability to capitalize on Alabama A&M turnovers mirrors past matchups where early leads translated into consistent wins. Alabama A&M, meanwhile, must adjust defensively to contain the Wildcats’ sharpshooters while improving transition offense to stay competitive in the second half.

Medical and roster updates remain stable, with no reported injuries at halftime. Strategic substitutions by both teams, including Bethune-Cookman cycling in Doctor Bradley and Quentin Heady, and Alabama A&M rotating Graham, Dozier, and Pissis, indicate coaches are testing depth for both offensive and defensive sets.

Looking ahead, the Wildcats will aim to sustain shooting efficiency and defensive pressure, while the Bulldogs will need to improve free-throw conversion and reduce early turnovers to mount a second-half comeback. The matchup provides a clear early-season measure of

Bethune-Cookman’s offensive versatility and Alabama A&M’s ability to adapt under pressure.

With the Wildcats leading by ten at the break, the second half promises tactical adjustments, with scoring runs likely to decide the game’s outcome.

Analysts will watch how Bethune-Cookman balances bench contributions with starters and whether Alabama A&M can convert their early chances into sustained scoring runs.