The Florida A&M Men’s Basketball team had its’ magical
2006-07 campaign come to an end here Tuesday night, as the Niagara University Purple Eagles soared to a 77-69 victory in the opening round game of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the Dayton Arena.
Niagara (23-11) will advance to first round play at the Chicago Regional Friday to face top-seeded Kansas (30-4).
Just over 8,200 fans witnessed the battle between the champion of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, Florida A&M (21-14) and the winner of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, Niagara (23-11).
The Purple Eagles dominated in both halves, leading 35-31 at the break and outscoring the Rattlers, 42-38 in the second half.
Senior forward Darius Glover led FAMU with 15 points Tuesday. Fellow seniors Brian Greene and Rome Sanders each finished with 10 points, along with junior L.C. Robinson.
Greene pulled down a game-high nine rebounds, with Sanders grabbing eight boards and sophomore Lamar Twitty getting six rebounds Tuesday.
The Purple Eagles were led by Clif Brown’s game-high 32 points and seven rebounds. Brown cashed in six three-pointers in the game and was a virtual one-man wrecking crew Tuesday night.
Charron Fisher added 13 points and eight rebounds for Niagara, which also had 12 points apiece from Tyrone Lewis and Lorenzo Miles.
Despite the bitter disappointment of Tuesday’s game, the Rattlers can still be proud of a superb run in 2006-07.
?FAMU posted its’ third 20-win season during the school’s Division One Era, which began in 1979-80, finishing 21-14 overall.
?The Rattlers won their second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament title in four years and their fourth since 1991, after finishing second overall in the regular season standings with a 12-6 mark.
?Senior center Rome Sanders was named to the All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference first team, while teammate Brian Greene was named the MEAC Tournament MVP after a spectacular performance (23 points, 11 rebounds) in the title game.
?Junior guard Leslie “L.C.” Robinson, finished the season with 103 three-pointers, the third-highest single season total in school history. He became just the second FAMU player ever to finish with at least 100 three-pointers in a season, behind the incomparable Terrence Woods. Woods hit 140 in 2004 and 139 in 2003, leading Division One both seasons.
?Head coach Mike Gillespie, Sr. posted his second winning season overall in his six-year tenure at FAMU. Gillespie is 90-94 overall during his stay at FAMU with two MEAC Tournament titles, three MEAC Tournament semifinal berths and six straight winning records in conference play.
?FAMU’s four seniors ? Glover, Sanders, Greene and reserve Victor Monaros ? will all graduate this spring ? marking the third straight year that the entire senior class was on track to graduate after the season.