TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Interstat) — Antonio Baker scored 19 points and Florida A&M used a decisive first-half run to build a lead it would never relinquish, defeating Alabama State 76-63 in a Southwestern Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Alfred Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center. A crowd of 1,501 saw the Rattlers (11-15, 9-6 SWAC) sweep the regular-season series from the Hornets (9-18, 7-8) after Alabama State had won the first meeting on its home floor earlier this month. The victory moved Florida A&M into a tie for fourth place in the conference standings, while Alabama State dropped its second straight contest. The most critical stretch of the game came late in the first half. With Alabama State trailing 19-15, Florida A&M embarked on a 21-4 surge over a span of six minutes and 19 seconds to seize control. The run was fueled by a combination of stifling defense and efficient offense, as the Rattlers forced four Hornet turnovers and limited them to just one made field goal during the stretch. Jordan Chatman, who finished with 14 points, ignited the run with a 3-pointer and a converted and-one opportunity. Baker, the Savannah, Georgia, native, was a constant force, scoring on drives and free throws, while 6-foot-11 center Miles Ndalama of Ndola, Zambia, provided a physical presence inside, contributing several points and drawing fouls. When Baker connected on an alley-oop from Chatman just before the halftime buzzer, it capped the run and sent Florida A&M into the locker room with a 40-31 advantage. Alabama State never recovered from that deficit. The Hornets opened the second half with a quick 5-0 spurt, cutting the lead to 40-36, but could get no closer. The Rattlers responded immediately, scoring the next six points to push the lead back to double digits. For the remainder of the game, Florida A&M’s lead fluctuated between 8 and 15 points, as Alabama State could not muster a sustained offensive challenge. The statistical story favored the Rattlers in nearly every facet. Florida A&M shot 49% from the field (27 of 55) compared to Alabama State’s 40% (22 of 55). While both teams struggled from beyond the arc, the Rattlers dominated inside, outscoring the Hornets 40-28 in the paint and outrebounding them on the offensive glass 11-6, leading to 15 second-chance points. Baker’s 19 points led all scorers, supplemented by his nine rebounds. Chatman added 14 points and three assists. Ndalama posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaquan Sanders of Far Rockaway, New York, facilitated the offense with a game-high six assists to go with eight points. Alabama State was led by Cam Palesse of Waukesha, Wisconsin, who scored 12 points and dished out four assists. Damarien Yates of Somerville, Tennessee, provided a spark off the bench with 10 points. The Hornets’ offense was hampered by poor free-throw shooting, converting only 12 of 24 attempts from the line, and a subpar offensive rating of 90.8 points per 100 possessions. Defensively, Alabama State was active, recording eight steals and forcing 14 Florida A&M turnovers, which they converted into 16 points. However, their own nine turnovers and the Rattlers’ superior efficiency inside ultimately proved too much to overcome. The game’s result flipped the pregame expectations, as Alabama State had been installed as a slight 1.5-point favorite. The total points scored, 139, fell under the projected over/under line of 143.5. Florida A&M looks to build on the win when it travels to face Southern on Thursday. Alabama State will aim to regroup before its next contest at rival Alabama A&M on Saturday.