FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- Fayetteville State's depth proved to be the difference Saturday afternoon as the Broncos rode a dominant bench performance to a 77-59 victory over Clayton State inside Capel Arena. The win pushes FSU to 4-1 on the season, continuing its strong start under head coach Tyreece Brown.
The Broncos' reserves exploded for 52 points, fueling an offensive surge that overwhelmed the Lakers (2-4). Jashontae Harris led the scoring effort with 10 points, while Amina Miles added eight points, three blocks, and two steals in an energetic outing. Talia Trotter orchestrated the offense with seven assists to go along with eight points, and KaNyah O'Neal chipped in nine points and four assists.
Fayetteville State controlled the glass, finishing with a 41-37 rebounding edge, highlighted by eight boards from Laila Lewis. The Broncos' hustle on the offensive glass paid off with 12 second-chance points.
Defensively, FSU turned up the pressure, forcing 17 Clayton State turnovers and converting them into 21 points. Kelis Carmon led the defensive charge with three steals, while the team combined for eight blocks, showcasing its rim protection.
Despite the loss, Clayton State had strong individual performances. Kyla Greene paced the Lakers with 17 points and three steals, while Jasmyn Burts added 12 points and five rebounds. Etaria Gibbons anchored the paint with eight rebounds, and Amanda Eziukwu chipped in seven points and three boards off the bench.
After a slow start that saw the Broncos trail 9-3, FSU responded with a 12-0 run midway through the first quarter, capped by a Rebecca Kaba basket, to seize a 15-9 lead. The Broncos never looked back, closing the opening frame ahead 19-13 thanks to 12 points in the paint.
The second quarter was all Fayetteville State. The Broncos ripped off an 11-0 run early in the period and outscored Clayton State 28-11 in the frame to take a commanding 47-24 halftime lead. FSU dominated inside, scoring 14 points in the paint during the quarter.
Clayton State showed signs of life in the third, trimming the deficit to 57-45, but the Broncos slammed the door in the fourth. A 13-0 run ballooned the lead to 70-45 with just over six minutes remaining, and FSU cruised to the finish line.
Fayetteville State will return to Capel Arena on Monday, December 1, to face Catawba College. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
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