FAMU basketball swept in SWAC opener rivalry games vs Bethune-Cookman

The first game of 2026 wasn’t nice to Florida A&M basketball.

On Saturday, Jan. 3, the Rattlers were swept by rivals Bethune-Cookman in the Southwestern Athletic Conference opener at Daytona Beach’s Moore Gymnasium.

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FAMU women’s basketball (1-11, 0-1 in SWAC) lost 57-56 to the Wildcats (3-11, 1-0 in SWAC).

The shortfall came heartbreakingly.

Bethune-Cookman’s Keiara Gregory intercepted FAMU guard Camille Jackson’s inbound pass. Gregory then passed the ball to Daimoni Dorsey for a layup to pull ahead with two seconds left.

Florida A&M Rattlers guard Tahnyjia Purifoy handles the basketball as Florida Gators guard Alexia Dizeko defends in an NCAA game at Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, Florida, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025.

Tahnyjia Purifoy’s half-court heave nearly went in as time expired, but the shot didn’t convert. The guard from Pensacola led the Rattlers with 16 points.

FAMU men’s basketball (3-9, 0-1 in SWAC) faltered 87-83 to the Wildcats (4-10, 1-0 in SWAC).

The Rattlers erased a 12-point halftime deficit but couldn’t complete their comeback effort despite outscoring the Wildcats 47-39 in the second half.

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FAMU had five double-digit scorers, led by Jaquan Sanders’ 22 points. Tyler Shirley added 15, Antonio Baker Jr. scored 13, Micah Octave contributed 11, and Jordan Chatman had 10.

It was the SWAC debut for FAMU men’s basketball head coach Charlie Ward, the 1993 Heisman Trophy winner and former New York Knicks point guard.

FAMU women’s basketball will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 8, for a SWAC game versus Grambling State in Tallahassee at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball will play again on Saturday, Jan. 10, versus SWAC opponent Southern on the back half of a doubleheader with the women’s teams at the Al Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center. The games begin at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

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Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for…

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Publish date : 2026-01-04 15:15:00

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