With 1:51 left Jordan Jones hit a jumper that gave the Owls momentum and a 10-point lead, but with a series of hustle plays led by junior forward, Desmond Williams, the Rattlers cut the lead to four with a little over a minute still in the game. With 14 seconds left sophomore guard Justin Ravenel hit a jumper and brought the team within two points but it would be too late, Elijah Mays attempted a long three with 3.4 seconds left that hit the glass and the Owls got their second straight win over the Rattlers.
After starting out 2-1 the Rattlers have been on a five game losing streak with this loss moving them to 2-6 on the season, Coach Byron Samuels remains optimistic. “They key thing is: We are being aggressive, we are getting there and we are giving ourselves a chance. I don’t necessarily believe in luck but I do believe our fortune is gonna be good this year.”
The Rattlers last two games have been extremely close but have escaped from the tip of their fingers due to blown leads, missed free throws and with the absence of 6’10 center, Andrew Smith a lack of rebounding.
As Coach Samuels said this team is slowly but surely getting there. With the addition of five players that have already played in a college setting they bring an abundance of maturity and tenacity.
Williams who has lead in all-around statistics for multiple games and headed the comeback last night says “… whatever I can do to positively impact the team, set a screen, take a charge, block shots, rebounds, I’ll do anything and everything to get a win in that column.”
Saturday the Rattlers take on Southern University in the Al Lawson Center at 4:00, a month away from MEAC play the Rattlers hope to gain some momentum and get some wins.