![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/87550772007-champions-ranch-224.JPG\"\/)
![\"play\"](\"https:\/\/www.gannett-cdn.com\/appservices\/universal-web\/universal\/icons\/icon-play-alt-white.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
See Santa lead the Florida A&M Marching 100<\/p>\n
Santa Claus joined the Florida A&M Marching 100 as they perform at the ground breaking ceremony for Charlie Ward\u2019s Champion Ranch.<\/p>\n
Florida A&M<\/a> men\u2019s basketball left its trip to Duval County empty-handed.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Dec. 2, the Rattlers (0-5) lost 85-82 in overtime at the Jacksonville Dolphins (4-4)<\/a> inside of Swisher Gymnasium before 862 fans.<\/p>\n The Rattlers<\/a>\u2019 loss came despite them shooting 59 percent from the field and going 13-for-21, 62 percent, from the three-point line.<\/p>\n In comparison, Jacksonville shot 43 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc at a 12-for-31 rate.<\/p>\n Turnovers proved costly for FAMU, as it committed 17 to Jacksonville\u2019s nine.<\/p>\n The Rattlers also only shot six free throws, making three. The Dolphins went 13-for-19 from the charity stripe.<\/p>\n FAMU had four players score in double figures, led by guard Jaquan Sanders\u2019 <\/a>game-high 20 points. Forward Kaleb Washington had 16 points, and Antonio Baker and Tyler Shirley added 14 apiece.<\/p>\n Jacksonville\u2019s leading scorer was Jaylen Jones, a guard who scored 16 points.<\/p>\n FAMU is still in search of its first victory under first-year head coach Charlie Ward <\/a>as it enters the four-team inaugural ESPN HBCU Hoops Invitational<\/a> in Orlando this Friday, Dec. 5, to Saturday, Dec. 6.<\/p>\n FAMU opens the tournament facing Barber-Scotia College on Friday at 5 p.m. at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on the Walt Disney World campus. The other two teams competing are Florida Memorial and Tuskegee.<\/p>\n FAMU women’s basketball can’t hold lead in loss vs Jacksonville<\/p>\n FAMU women\u2019s basketball (0-8) was in control of its home game versus Jacksonville (6-1), but couldn\u2019t finish the deal.<\/p>\n After having a 34-25 lead, the Rattlers got outpaced by the Dolphins 45-29 en route to the 70-63 loss <\/a>at the Al Lawson Center in front of 502 FAMU basketball fans on Tuesday, Dec. 2.<\/p>\n FAMU lost the turnover battle, committing 20 to Jacksonville\u2019s 13. However, the Rattlers had a 29-26 rebound advantage over the Dolphins.<\/p>\n The Rattlers had three players score in double digits, with forward Miya Jones-Gill having 17 points and adding six rebounds. Guard Tahniyjia Purifoy had 15 points while fellow guard Shaniyah McCarthy scored 14.<\/p>\n Jacksonville\u2019s top scorer was guard Mychal White, with 22.<\/p>\n FAMU women\u2019s basketball returns to action in two weeks as it travels to Gainesville <\/a>looking to get its first win of the season against the Florida Gators on Dec. 17.<\/p>\n Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the\u00a0Florida A&M Rattlers<\/a>\u00a0at the Tallahassee Democrat.<\/strong><\/p>\n Follow his award-winning coverage on\u00a0RattlerNews.com<\/a>\u00a0and contact him via email at\u00a0GDThomas@Tallahassee.com<\/a>\u00a0or on the app formerly known as Twitter\u00a0@3peatgee<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n