CHARLOTTE, NC --The Fayetteville State men's basketball team delivered a potent offensive showcase Saturday afternoon, knocking down half of its three‑point attempts and sharing the ball with precision in a 95–83 road win over Johnson C. Smith inside Brayboy Gymnasium. The victory pushed the Broncos to 10–6 overall and 5–2 in CIAA play, continuing their surge through conference competition with one of their most efficient performances of the season.
Despite falling behind 9–2 in the opening minutes, Fayetteville State responded with poise and explosiveness, ripping off a 13–0 run to seize momentum and a lead it would not surrender the rest of the way. That early burst—led by the aggressive shot‑making of Terrell Williams—set the tone for a game in which the Broncos combined deep shooting, unselfish ball movement, and defensive pressure to outpace the Golden Bulls on their home floor.
Ezekiel Cannedy delivered a standout performance, recording a double‑double with 24 points and 10 assists. His command of the offense fueled a night where Fayetteville State connected on 21 assists across 30 made field goals, including nine makes from beyond the arc. Williams added a complete effort of 23 points, seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals, repeatedly attacking the basket and generating momentum‑shifting plays. Larry Howell chipped in 17 points, giving the Broncos three scorers with 17 or more.
Romeo Aquino and Kenneth Brayboy anchored the rebounding effort, grabbing seven boards apiece as Fayetteville State finished with a 41–31 edge on the glass. The Broncos also dominated the offensive boards with 13, extending possessions and creating second‑chance scoring opportunities that helped keep Johnson C. Smith at arm's length during the second half. Defensively, Fayetteville State forced 14 turnovers and converted those into 22 points, backed by a team‑high five steals from Darius Boben, who was disruptive throughout the afternoon.
After taking a narrow 43–41 lead into halftime—powered by six three‑pointers in the opening period—the Broncos came out firing in the second half. The offense continued to flow through Cannedy and Williams, while bench production provided crucial support. Fayetteville State's reserves accounted for 19 of the team's 52 second‑half points and 34 points overall, giving the Broncos the depth advantage needed to pull away.
Fayetteville State stretched its lead to 72–65 midway through the second half, then broke the game open with an 8‑0 run capped by an Ibrahim Kourouma layup, pushing the margin to 15 with 6:18 remaining. Johnson C. Smith pushed back behind strong efforts from Jared Davis (21 points, nine rebounds) and Jamauri Bryant (15 points, eight rebounds), but the Golden Bulls could not overcome the Broncos' balanced scoring and second‑half efficiency.
The Broncos shot 48.4 percent from the field and a blistering 50 percent from three, connecting on nine of 18 attempts. Free throws proved valuable down the stretch as well, with Fayetteville State converting 26 of 33 from the stripe. The team's discipline and decision‑making were evident in its ability to close out the game confidently, never allowing Johnson C. Smith to cut the lead to single digits again after the midway point of the second half.
The Broncos return to action on Wednesday, January 21, when they travel to Salisbury to face Livingstone in a key midseason CIAA matchup. The game is set to begin at 7:30 pm.
