RALEIGH, NC -- Fayetteville State showed championship poise on Saturday afternoon, erasing a nine-point halftime deficit and powering past Shaw 101–89 inside Spaulding Gymnasium. The victory lifts the Broncos to 20–6 overall and 14–2 in the CIAA, while the Bears drop to 16–10 and 8–9 in league play.
Larry Howell delivered one of his biggest performances of the season, securing a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double while shooting 10-of-15 from the field. Off the bench, Ezekiel Cannedy was electric, scoring 22 points with three steals and knocking down 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Terrell Williams stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, playing a key role in Fayetteville State's second-half turnaround.
Shaw came out firing, pushing its lead to 48–34 late in the first half behind efficient scoring in transition. But the Broncos refused to fold. Fayetteville State answered with an 8–0 run sparked by energy on the defensive end and capped by a Romeo Aquino bucket, cutting the margin to 48–42 with under five minutes to play in the half. Despite the surge, Shaw held on to a 53–44 lead at the break, leaving FSU with work to do.
That work came swiftly after halftime. The Broncos' offense found its rhythm, their defense turned disruptive, and their tempo pushed Shaw to the brink. The score eventually tightened to 81–81, setting up a decisive run that swung the game for good. Fayetteville State unleashed a commanding 10–0 burst, fueled by defensive pressure and crisp execution in the paint, surging ahead 91–81 with 5:04 remaining. From there, the Broncos controlled every possession, steadily extending the lead and closing out a 101–89 road win.
The Broncos shot a blistering 58.2 percent from the floor and punished Shaw for its mistakes. Fayetteville State forced 19 turnovers, converting them into 28 points, while also winning the rebounding battle 40–39 thanks to Howell's 10 boards. The team's offensive balance was on full display as five Broncos finished in double figures.
Shaw was led by a standout 28-point effort from Dreveon Scott and 18 points from Isaiah Buckley, but the Bears struggled to keep pace once FSU seized momentum. Shaw shot just 20 percent from three-point range and was outscored 57–36 in the second half.
Fayetteville State dominated the interior with 52 points in the paint, used its depth to outscore Shaw 30–32 in bench production, and dictated the game's pace with 36 fast-break points. It was a complete performance that showed why the Broncos sit near the top of the CIAA standings.
With the regular season wrapped, Fayetteville State now turns its attention to postseason play. The Broncos will travel to Baltimore, Maryland, for the CIAA Tournament, which begins Tuesday, Feb. 24. Tournament brackets will be released later today after all conference games have concluded.
