FAYETTEVILLE, NC --On a spirited Senior Day inside Capel Arena, Fayetteville State celebrated its upperclassmen and protected its home floor once again, remaining undefeated at home this season with a 91–80 win over Johnson C. Smith on Saturday afternoon. Powered by three 20‑point scorers and a commanding defensive effort, the Broncos improved to 18–6 overall and 12–2 in CIAA play.

Larry Howell led the charge with 26 points, attacking the basket relentlessly and converting 10 of his 13 free throws. Ezekiel Cannedy added 23 points, knocking down three three‑pointers and delivering clutch moments throughout the game, while forward Romeo Aquino dominated both ends of the floor with 20 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks.

The Broncos set the tone early, jumping out to a 20–12 advantage before a 6–0 run capped by a Travon Cooper finish stretched the lead to 26–12 with just over 12 minutes remaining in the half. Johnson C. Smith responded behind a strong showing from Jamauri Bryant, who finished with 25 points and eight rebounds, but Fayetteville State maintained control and took a 38–33 lead into halftime.

Fayetteville State's inside presence proved decisive. The Broncos scored 44 points in the paint and used their length to limit Johnson C. Smith to just 13 percent from beyond the arc. Aquino anchored a stout defensive front with four blocks, part of the team's eight total rejections on the afternoon.

The second half belonged to the Broncos' offense. FSU maintained a steady lead before stretching the margin to 70–63, then delivered a decisive 6–0 burst that pushed the advantage to 76–63 with 4:39 remaining. From there, the Broncos dictated the tempo, relied on Howell and Cannedy's efficiency from the free‑throw line, and kept the Golden Bulls at arm's length the rest of the way.

The Broncos also held a 39–35 advantage on the boards, with Kenneth Brayboy contributing seven rebounds off the bench and Cooper adding six. Fayetteville State knocked down 34 of 43 free‑throw attempts, using that efficiency to maintain control in the closing minutes.

Justin Bumbray added 16 points for Johnson C. Smith, while Anthony Williams chipped in nine, but the Golden Bulls struggled to overcome the Broncos' balanced scoring and interior dominance.

Fayetteville State now turns its attention to a key CIAA road test, heading to Orangeburg for a matchup with Claflin on Wednesday, February 18 at 7:30 p.m., as the Broncos aim to extend their momentum into the final stretch of the regular season.