The Game:          Fayetteville State vs. University of South Carolina Aiken
Date:                     Saturday, December 3, 2022
Location:              Felton J. Capel Arena, Fayetteville, NC
Watch:                  fsubroncos.com/sportsnetwork
Follow:                 Live Stats; @FSUBroncos; @FSU_Broncos
 
Fayetteville State (1-6 Overall):
The Broncos have seen better days with its current 1-6 overall record, but there is a method to the madness of the 2022-23 schedule lineup.
 
After winning the program's second CIAA men's basketball title last season and breaking a 39-year hiatus from the crown, FSU lost seven major contributors from its roster; four were starters. The seven returners including lone starter Cress Worthy have been paired with six transfers to defend its championship title.
 
Fayetteville State opened the season in the Bowie State Classic facing PSAC opponent East Stroudsburg and Mountain East opponent Frostburg State. The Broncos went on a three-game weekend in Georgia with games against Tuskegee, Morehouse, and Augusta and will have another back-to-back weekend this Saturday and Sunday. The coaching staff put together a tough opening segment of the season to develop the new mesh of student-athletes and be better prepared for another CIAA tournament run and possible NCAA berth.
 
"We've had five games like this [that has come down to the last minute] where we won one and lost four," said Head Coach Luke D'Alessio. "The only thing I know is that we are 1-6 and the record doesn't lie. I don't believe in moral victories. This is uncharted territories for me. We just got to get better."
 
Fayetteville State was 4-4 last season before facing USC Aiken in Aiken, South Carolina.
 
The Broncos are led by senior guard Cress Worthy (Gastonia, NC) who is averaging 13.9 points per game in the seven games played. He has a total of 15 assists and six steals to add to his 4.9 rebounding average. He has double-digit points in five games with a 20-point performance against Augusta and an 18-point game versus UNC Pembroke.
 
Junior forward Kaleb Coleman (Orlando, FL) has put up 10.4 points per game and pulled down 4.6 boards. He has scored double figures in three of his seven games.
 
Sophomore point guard Marcus Elliott (Fuquay Varina, NC) tied his career-best performance of 22 points in a game against Virginia Union this past Sunday. He shot a blistering 6-12 from beyond the arc to keep the Broncos in the game against the Panthers.
 
Fayetteville State has played USC Aiken three times since 1998 and holds a 2-1 record against the Pacers. The Broncos led by as much as five (41-36) over USC Aiken (5-3 overall) early in the second half but failed to closeout in a 75-68 loss to the Pacers. Cress Worthy wasn't too far off from his career performance with a game-high 23 points and five assists. Jalen Seegars trailed with 21 points with seven rebounds and two blocks.
 
FSU is currently 0-2 this season in Capel Arena and will look to turn the season around with a victory that breaks a five-game losing streak.
 
USC Aiken (5-2 overall):
During the last four games, USC Aiken is averaging 83.5 points a game. The team has hit at least 82 points in every game while registering a high of 86 (at Limestone). In fact, in five of the team's six games this season, head coach Mark Vanderslice's team has reached the 80-point plateau. USC Aiken has reeled off five consecutive victories after starting 0-2. The Pacers are 3-0 at home for the season (and during the last four outings) while improving to 2-1 on the road with wins at Limestone and Southern Wesleyan.
 
Head coach Mark Vanderslice's team has a preseason all-conference honoree in Tehree Horn on the team. However, in each of the four wins, the Pacers have had different student-athletes that have stepped up for a total team effort. Horn, Tyler Johnson, and Karon Boyd notched double figures against Anderson. Horn and Johnson reached double digits against Coastal Georgia while Boyd, DeShawn Thomas, Jalen McCoy, and Horn reached double figures against the Saints. Christopher Brown, Horn, Johnson, and McCoy netted double digits against the Warriors.
 
Stat Comparisons:
USC Aiken has produced 80 points and allowed 67.3. That's a 12.7 advantage against its opponents. Fayetteville State is averaging 59.6 points per game and is giving up 64.9 points; a negative 5.3-point difference.
 
USCA is shooting 45.6 % from the field (203-445) and 31.4 from beyond the arc (48-153). The Pacers have shot 146 free throws and have made 72.6% of them. FSU is making 36.3% of its shots (150-413) and 31.9% in threes (53-166). With 101 trips to the line, the Broncos have made 64 for a 63.4 average.
 
Fayetteville State is pulling down 33.4 rebounds (-0.6) behind its opponents' 34 per game. USC Aiken has a 10.7 rebounding average over its opponents with 42.3 boards to 31.6 rebounds per game.
 
The Pacers are averaging 13.6 turnovers per game and are coming up with 7.4 steals. The Broncos have a 12.3 turnover average and 5.6 steals per game.