Jan. 19, 2010

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE - The opening minutes of Fayetteville State's 81-62 loss to Virginia Union were a glimpse into the future.

FSU (4-9, 1-6 CIAA) came out firing on all cylinders and opened up an early 13-point lead on the Panthers.

In the first half alone, sophomore Jarmel Baxter and junior Ariel Robinson combined to make seven 3-point field goals.

"I would like to play at a fast pace, execute and have numerous bodies going in and out," FSU head coach Alphonza Kee said. "I want to play fast, but I'd like to run some more defenses. When you play a team that solid you want to change up on them."

After the Broncos' opening run, Virginia Union clawed back thanks to Braxton Byerson and Ryan King. VUU eventually used a 15-4 second-half run to put the game out of reach.

"We showed a lot of intensity and that's what kept us in the game," Robinson said. "I guess maybe we got complacent out there and then slacked up. What we need to do is play for 40 minutes like we did the first 10 or 12 minutes of the game."

Byerson had a game-high 21 points while King added 20 points, five assists and four rebounds.

"Virginia Union is so polished," said Kee. "They believe in their system and everyone knows it. You don't see them ebb and flow. They just run their stuff. You see with us we're high and then we're low."

While he wasn't happy with the loss, Kee said he was more than pleased with his team's effort.

"The effort I'm proud of," he said. "As long as I get our team to give the effort, we'll continue to build. I'm seeing us competing, so eventually it'll go our way."

Robinson led FSU with 21 points including five 3-point field goals. Baxter added 19 points while Jamel Carpenter, the CIAA's leading scorer, was held to eight points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field.

Kee and the Broncos will travel to Chowan on Thursday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

"We just have to get it together," said Robinson. "There's no doubt in the team, my teammates or the coaches. We just have to come through it and once we get through it, we're going to be a better team and better players."

The Panthers (12-5, 9-3 CIAA) scored 27 points off 16 FSU turnovers and their bench outscored FSU's 62-31.