FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- The Fayetteville State men's basketball team secured a thrilling 85-80 victory over the South Carolina Aiken Pacers, who are ranked #1 in the Southeast Region Polls and #11 in the National DII polls, at home on Tuesday.
The Broncos (5-1) were led by Caleb Simmons, who delivered a career-high 34 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, marking an impressive double-double. Tairell Fletcher contributed significantly with 20 points, eight assists, and two steals, while Javon Floyd added 11 points.
Despite the loss, the Pacers, put up a strong fight. Jalen McCoy led USC Aiken with 29 points, shooting 14-24 from the field and pulling down seven rebounds. The Pacers now fall to 4-1 for the season.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams tied at 37-37 at halftime. Fayetteville State managed to pull ahead in the second half, outscoring the Pacers 48-43. With just 39 seconds left, Caleb Byrd of USC Aiken hit a crucial three-pointer, pulling the Pacers within one point, 81-80. However, significant free throws by Simmons and Myles Pierre helped seal the game for the Broncos.
Fayetteville State's aggressive play on the offensive glass was a significant factor, as they collected 11 offensive rebounds, leading to 12 second-chance points. Their defense also played a pivotal role, forcing 13 turnovers and converting them into 16 points.
Caleb Simmons shared his approach to staying composed in critical moments, saying, "I've learned under Coach Luke that you have to be cool, calm, and collected. You have to be patient. If Coach is not worried, we shouldn't be worried. I've rarely seen Coach worried or rattled."
Coach Luke D'Alessio praised the team's resilience, stating, "You want to play a quality team. You want to be tested and we were tested. The great thing about it, our defense held at the end and then we made foul shots down the stretch."
Overall, it was a well-rounded team effort that saw the Broncos come out on top, with Simmons' standout performance being the highlight of the game.
The Broncos will travel to Petersburg, Virginia to play in a non-conference match-up against Virginia State on Saturday, November 30th. Tip-off will be 4:00 PM. Links to watch the game or follow live stats can be found on fsubroncos.com/gameday.
