Jan. 23, 2010

Final Stats

FAYETTEVILLE - Just 31 days before the CIAA tournament, Ariel Robinson gave the rest of the conference some bad news on Saturday.

He's finally getting healthy.

Robinson, who has battled several nagging injuries, scored a season-high 24 points on 9-of-12 shooting from the field and led FSU (5-10, 2-7 CIAA) to a 76-64 win over Saint Paul's.

"This was probably the best I've felt on the court this season," said Robinson. "Not to sound cocky, I'm just confident, but I know I can play much better than I did tonight."

Added FSU head coach Alphonza Kee: "I don't make excuses but Ariel's been plagued by injuries all year. You combine learning a new system and missing games - and it's coming a little bit. He's not a 100 percent yet but he is getting close. He's a man with a lot of character."

The Broncos led by four, 26-22, at halftime but Kee wasn't pleased with his team's defensive effort.

"I did a little aggressive counseling at halftime," Kee said. "We understand that we have two teams because three players came in late. But I have no room or patience for lack of extreme effort. I didn't feel we had that in the first half."

FSU held SPC (1-12, 0-11 CIAA) to 41.3 percent shooting from the field and scored 23 points off 21 Tigers' turnovers. The Broncos led by as much as 21 in the second half.

"I think a big difference from when we played them the first time was turnovers," said Robinson. "We played well and executed what the coaches asked us to do."

Jarrick Jones, who along with Robinson was selected to the All-CIAA preseason team, had 13 points. Jamel Carpenter added 16 points, eight rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes of action.

Kee's team had its best performance of the season at the free-throw line. The Broncos made 21-of-23 (91. 3 percent) from the line.

Robinson and the Broncos will begin a three-game road trip at Elizabeth City State on Monday. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

FSU plays at Shaw on Saturday and at Johnson C. Smith on Feb. 1 before returning home for a tilt with division-foe Livingstone on Feb. 4.

"We're building this program and laying a foundation," said Kee. "We must have extreme tenacity and extreme effort. When we play tenacious and hard consistently, then we have a chance to be pretty good. Humble, hungry and tenacious are the mainstays of our program."

Jason Davis led the Tigers with 16 points.