FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- The Fayetteville State men's basketball team triumphed over the Bluefield State Big Blues with an 80-73 victory at home on Saturday. The Broncos (8-4, 2-1 CIAA) were led by Ezekiel Cannedy, who scored an impressive 29 points. Javon Floyd and Caleb Simmons each recorded double-doubles, with Floyd contributing 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Simmons adding 13 points and 12 rebounds.

Fayetteville State's offense was on fire from downtown, making eight three-pointers on 16 attempts. Cannedy was particularly effective, hitting four of those threes. Defensively, the Broncos held Bluefield State to just 37 percent shooting from the field and managed to keep the CIAA's leading scorer, Jordan Hinds, to only seven points.

The game began with Fayetteville State jumping out to a 5-1 lead, followed by an 8-0 run to extend their advantage to 13-1. By halftime, the Broncos had built a 42-29 lead, thanks in part to their three-point shooting, which accounted for 18 of their first-half points.

In the second half, Fayetteville State continued to dominate, going on a 6-0 run early in the period to push their lead to 50-33. Although the Big Blues made a late push, the Broncos maintained control and secured the win. Fayetteville State excelled in the paint, scoring 22 of their 38 points inside.

For Bluefield State (6-6, 0-2 CIAA), Terrell Williams led the team with 19 points, shooting 6-11 from the field and 7-9 from the free-throw line. Larry Howell added 16 points, and Romeo Aquino chipped in with 14 points, including 11-16 from the free-throw line.

Coach Luke D'Alessio praised his team's effort, saying, "I thought we did a great job rebounding and outrebounding them by 13. Tremendous job by Isaiah Ray and Jayden Beloti guarding Bluefield's Jordan Hinds." Jordan Hinds is currently the #1 scorer in the CIAA conference. Ezekiel Cannedy also commented on stepping up in the absence of starting guard Tairell Fletcher, stating, "I knew we still had depth on the team. Coach Luke was asking somebody to step up. So I went out there to do what I do best. I went out there with confidence and scored 29."

The Broncos' bench made a significant impact, contributing to the team's overall success. Fayetteville State also dominated the boards, outrebounding Bluefield State 39-26, and collected 13 offensive rebounds, showcasing their hustle and determination.

The Broncos will be back at home for a non-conference match against USC-Beaufort on January 2, 2025 at 5:30 PM. The game is free to the public.