Florida A&M wins MEAC title, NCAA bid
Posted: Saturday March 06, 1999 11:14 PM
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A season that started with 10 consecutive losses isn't over yet for Florida A&M. The Rattlers are going to the NCAA tournament.
John Cuyler hit two free throws in the final seconds Saturday as seventh-seeded Florida A&M beat top-seeded South Carolina State 64-61 in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.
The Rattlers (12-18) are the 15th team to make the tournament with a losing record.
Monroe Pippins scored eight points as the Rattlers opened the second half with a 14-2 run that gave them a 40-28 lead with 16:14 left. The Bulldogs (17-12) came right back with a 14-2 burst capped by Dexter Hall's tip-in to tie the score at 42 with 11:38 left. Pippins answered with a gyrating scoop shot to put the Rattlers (12-18) ahead for good 44-42 with 11:10 left.
South Carolina State closed to within one several times, the last on a pair of free throws by Mike Wiatre to make it 62-61 with 16.4 seconds left.
After Pippins missed two free throws with 15.4 seconds left, the Bulldogs worked the ball to Coray Davis, who missed a 3-pointer with six seconds left. The Bulldogs then had to foul Cuyler, who made both shots. James Jones' 3-pointer to the tie missed at the buzzer.
"Early in the season, we would have cracked. But we've matured," said Pippins, who led the Rattlers with 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Injuries have left the Rattlers with only nine players. The last time the Rattlers won the tournament championship was 1991, and their last winning season was 1991-92.
The Rattlers would have to win the national championship to have a .500 season.
"The game came down to Florida A&M was more physical than us," Bulldogs coach Cy Alexander said. A&M had a 52-47 rebounding advantage, including 26 offensive boards.
"I thought sooner or later, they would wear down. They didn't and they got too many second shots," he said.
Jones led the Bulldogs with 13, while Davis, Wiatre and Hall scored 10 apiece. Hall finished with 18 rebounds.
"We talked a lot about the dream, to be able to do this," Rattlers coach Mickey Clayton said of his team's improbable quest. "And for underdogs everywhere, to be able to come through what this team has faced and to have faith ... It still hasn't sunk in, the reality of what we've done here."
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