SALISBURY, NC -- Ezekiel Cannedy scored 24 points and Caleb Simmons added 23 as the Fayetteville State men's basketball team defeated the Livingstone Blue Bears 78-69 on the road Saturday. The Broncos, now 20-6 overall and 12-3 in the CIAA, were propelled by the stellar scoring performances of Cannedy and Simmons. Cannedy also contributed two steals, while Simmons added 11 rebounds and three steals. Tairell Fletcher chipped in with 14 points.
Fayetteville State's defense was a key factor in the victory, forcing 15 Livingstone turnovers while committing only 10 themselves. The Broncos capitalized on these takeaways, converting them into 12 points. Isaiah Ray led the defensive effort with three steals.
The game began with Livingstone, who now hold a 12-14 overall record and 4-10 in the CIAA, taking a 27-20 lead. However, Fayetteville State responded with a 6-0 run with 3:45 left in the first half, narrowing the deficit to 27-26. Livingstone managed to extend their lead slightly, leaving the Broncos down 32-30 at halftime.
In the second half, Fayetteville State took control, building a 49-43 lead before going on an 8-0 run, capped by an Anthony Latty layup, to extend their advantage to 57-43 with 7:06 remaining. Although the Blue Bears managed to reduce the margin, the Broncos maintained their composure and secured the 78-69 victory. Fayetteville State dominated in the paint, scoring 24 of their 48 points in the lane.
Caleb Simmons notched an impressive double-double with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Broncos held the Blue Bears to just 39 percent shooting from the field. The trio of Ezekiel Cannedy, Caleb Simmons, and Tairell Fletcher accounted for 78 percent of the Broncos' points. Fayetteville State's defense was relentless, forcing 15 turnovers. Ezekiel Cannedy led all scorers with 24 points, while Caleb Simmons added 23 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
For Livingstone, Teon Tiller was a standout performer, scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds. James Nipper also contributed significantly with 12 points and two rebounds.
The Broncos will host Claflin in Capel on Wednesday, February 19th at 7:30 PM. This will be their last regular conference game for the season.
