FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- Fayetteville State men's basketball overcame a sluggish start and delivered a dominant second-half performance to knock off Coker University 86-79 on Tuesday night at Capel Arena. The victory lifts the Broncos to 3-2 on the season, while the Cobras drop to 1-2.
The game opened with Coker racing to a 20-5 lead, fueled by sharp perimeter shooting and transition play. Fayetteville State responded with an 8-0 run midway through the first half, capped by a three-pointer from Ibrahim Kourouma, and clawed back to tie the score at 37-37 by halftime. The Broncos' bench provided a spark during the comeback, contributing 10 points in the opening period.
Coker leaned on its backcourt duo of Isayah Owens and Predrag Panisic, who combined for 39 points. Owens led all scorers with 22 points and added three steals, while Panisic chipped in 17 points and six rebounds. Zundra Jackson also posted a double-digit effort with 15 points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
The second half belonged to Fayetteville State. After trailing 65-56 with just over four minutes remaining, the Broncos unleashed an 11-0 run to seize a 67-65 lead. From there, they controlled the tempo, attacking the paint and converting at the free-throw line to secure the win.
Darius Boben paced the Broncos with 20 points, going 8-for-10 from the stripe, and added four assists and two steals. Ezekiel Cannedy delivered a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Romeo Aquino scored 18 points and anchored the defense with three blocks. Omari Byrd was a force on the glass, pulling down 10 rebounds, including three on the offensive end.
Fayetteville State finished with a 49-39 rebounding advantage and turned 13 offensive boards into 17 second-chance points. The Broncos also dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint and tallying six blocks as a team.
The win showcased Fayetteville State's depth and resilience, as the Broncos outscored Coker 49-42 in the second half and received 25 points from their bench. With strong ball movement leading to 15 assists and a defensive effort that disrupted Coker's rhythm, the Broncos closed out their home stand in style.
Fayetteville State will now hit the road, traveling to Aiken, South Carolina, to face USC Aiken on Saturday, November 29 at 3:30 p.m. as non-conference play continues.
