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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Brandon Bryant scored 19 points as Florida A&M defeated N.C. A&T 70-66 on Saturday night, giving the Rattlers their first MEAC win of the season.

The Rattlers capitalized on 18 Aggies turnovers.

"We just couldn't get over the hump tonight,'' said N.C .A&T head coach Jerry Eaves. "It was always something to do with us. We held ourselves back tonight. We have to learn to seize opportunities when they are there."

Larry Jackson added 14 points and Yannick Crowder had 13 for the Rattlers (3-11, 1-1), who have won three of their last four games since opening the season on a 10-game losing skid. Jackson and Christopher Walker led the Rattlers with eight rebounds apiece.

Florida A&M led by three points at halftime and did just enough to seal the win in the second half, outscoring the Aggies 43-42.

Thomas Coleman recorded a double-double for the Aggies (5-10, 1-1), scoring 19 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. Tavarus Alston added 14 points and Dwane Joshua had 10.

"When we don't shoot well from the 3 that's bad for us,'' said Eaves. "Then we shot 57 percent from the free throw line, so when you are having those kinds of issues you can't get continuity (on offense). I can't count the number of times a jump shot rimmed out on us or we missed a layup. We were always a half step away."

N.C. A&T (5-10) — Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Porter 1-2 0-0 2, Alston 4-7 4-4 14, Joshua 4-16 0-0 10, Simpson 0-5 0-0 0, Buck 1-1 0-1 2, Hill 4-7 1-1 9, Williams 1-2 0-0 3, Coleman 8-10 3-8 19, Witter 2-7 0-0 5, Upchurch 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-59 8-14 66.

FLORIDA A&M (3-11) — Jackson 6-10 2-5 14, Crowder 5-6 3-5 13, Walker 1-6 6-8 8, Jenkins 2-8 2-2 6, Bryant 5-10 6-8 19, Wallace 3-4 0-0 6, Brown 0-1 0-0 0, Bent 0-0 0-0 0, Stevens 1-5 0-1 2, Buchanon 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 24-54 19-29 70.

Halftime—Florida A&M 27-24.
3-point goals—N.C. A&T 6-24 (Alston 2-4, Joshua 2-9, Williams 1-2, Witter 1-5, Hill 0-1, Simpson 0-3), Florida A&M 3-14 (Bryant 3-6, Brown 0-1, Walker 0-1, Buchanon 0-2, Jenkins 0-4).
Fouled out—Joshua, Porter.
Rebounds—N.C. A&T 39 (Coleman 11), Florida A&M 34 (Jackson, Walker 8).
Assists—N.C. A&T 11 (Hill 5), Florida A&M 7 (Walker 3).
Total fouls—N.C. A&T 20, Florida A&M 16.
A—1,843.