FAYETTEVILLE, NC -- On a crisp Tuesday evening, the Fayetteville State Broncos took to their home court with determination, ready to face the Shaw Bears. The atmosphere was electric, with fans eagerly anticipating a thrilling game. The Broncos, boasting a solid record of 16-6 overall and 8-3 in the CIAA, were up against the Bears, who stood at 11-11 overall and 6-4 in the CIAA.
The game began with Shaw taking an early lead, pulling ahead 13-8. However, Fayetteville State quickly responded with an 8-0 run, sparked by a three-pointer from Ezekiel Cannedy. This surge gave the Broncos a 16-13 lead, and they never looked back. By halftime, Fayetteville State had extended their lead to 34-29, thanks in part to their sharp three-point shooting, which accounted for 15 of their first-half points.
As the second half unfolded, the Broncos continued to dominate. A 6-0 run, capped by a smooth jumper from Tairell Fletcher, pushed their lead to 45-35 with just over 16 minutes remaining. From there, Fayetteville State maintained control, steadily increasing their advantage and ultimately cruising to an 84-60 victory. Their defensive skills were on full display, holding Shaw to a mere 15 percent from beyond the arc, as the Bears managed only 3 of 20 attempts from deep.
Caleb Simmons was a force to be reckoned with, recording a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. His efforts on the boards were instrumental, as the Broncos out-rebounded Shaw 47-36, including 16 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second-chance points. Tairell Fletcher contributed 18 points, while Ezekiel Cannedy led all scorers with 24 points, marking a significant milestone in his college career.
Reflecting on his achievement of reaching 1,000 career points, Cannedy shared, "It means a lot. Coming into college, I really didn't know that would be a milestone. But coming into Fayetteville State, I knew that it would be an opportunity."
Coach Luke D'Alessio was full of praise for his team's performance. "We stepped up our defense. We did a great job on rebounding, we out-rebounded them and kept them off the boards. " he remarked, highlighting the key factors that led to their convincing win.
As the final buzzer sounded, the Broncos celebrated their hard-fought victory, knowing that their teamwork and determination had paid off. It was a night to remember, not just for the win, but for the milestones and memories created along the way.
The Broncos will travel to Charlotte to play Johnson C. Smith on Thursday, February 6th at 7:30 PM. Follow the action on fsubroncos.com/gameday.
