FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Fayetteville State's comeback effort runs out of time in a 66-63 loss to Winston-Salem State in Felton J. Capel Arena.
 
The Broncos (3-14 overall; 2-8 CIAA) trailed the Rams (9-8; 4-5) by nine (51-60) when Julius Barnes hit a three with 3:21 left in the game. Within the next two-and-half minutes, Joshua Bryant, who finished with a game-high 21 points and a double-double performance with 10 rebounds, netted four points that would bring the Broncos within five (60-55) with 50 seconds left in the game.
 
Following a dunk by the Rams Xavier Fennel, Nakia Rivers drained his first points of the game, with 26 seconds left on the clock, as his shot from beyond the three-point line whipped through the nets. The Broncos called a timeout, down by four (58-62), with 24 seconds left.
 
Winston-Salem State increased its lead to 64-58 after two trips to the free throw line and 13 seconds left in the game. The Rams committed a foul with 10 seconds left that gave Markeise Crutchfield a chance to hit both of his free throws and close the gap to 64-60.
 
After a missed free throw by the Rams, FSU pushed the ball up court and found Rivers on the wing where he hit his sixth point of the game with a three-ball that whipped through with six seconds left in the game. Down by one (64-63) with five seconds left in the game, the Broncos committed another foul to stop the clock.
 
Unfortunately, Julius Barnes (who led the Rams with 19 points) was the player who was fouled, and he sank both attempts at the line for the 66-63 victory.
 
Denzell Hosch helped carry the Broncos with 16 points.
 
William Crandell also scored in double figures for the Rams with 16 points.
 
Fayetteville State will travel to Raleigh to take on the Bears of Shaw University on Wednesday, January 31^st at 8 p.m. before hosting Saint Augustine's on Saturday at 4 pm in Capel Arena.