ERIE, PA — March 14, 2026 — Fayetteville State's (23-7) postseason run came to a close in the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Quarterfinal as California (Pa.) (23-8) pulled away after halftime for a 96–83 win at the Highmark Events Center.
Fayetteville State controlled the pace for long stretches of the first half. Terrell Williams answered an early three with one of his own, Ezekiel Cannedy sparked the bench with a pair of threes, and Romeo Aquino's transition triple helped the Broncos edge in front. Larry Howell's tip‑in and free throw tied it at 14–14, and Cannedy's right‑wing three with 33 seconds left made it 45–42 before Bryson Lucas scored at the horn to cut the lead to 45–44 at the break.
The game turned in the opening minutes of the second half. After Aquino scored to make it 47–44, California (Pa.) ripped off a burst behind a Jordyn Buchanan three, a Bryson Lucas and‑one in transition, and a Brayden Reynolds layup to jump in front 54–47. A Lucas trail three and a Reynolds‑to‑Dalman Alexander runout set the tone, and another Buchanan three pushed the margin to double digits. Back‑to‑back Lucas breakaway dunks stretched it to 72–54 with 12:27 left.
Fayetteville State kept coming—Cannedy knocked down a deep three, Darius Boben scored through contact, and Kenneth Brayboy hammered multiple late dunks—but each rally met a Vulcans answer. Lucas finished at the rim again inside two minutes, and Reynolds added a free throw in the final minute to seal it.
For the Broncos, Ezekiel Cannedy scored 20 points with four threes, Larry Howell posted 15 points and 10 rebounds with four assists, and Terrell Williams added 13 points, 15 rebounds, and four assists. Boben contributed eight with key second‑chance baskets, while Brayboy supplied eight and late rim runs. Fayetteville State shot 35.3% from the field and 30.0% from three, but produced 23 second‑chance points and 34 from the bench to stay in the fight.
California (Pa.) was led by Bryson Lucas with 33 points on 14‑of‑21 shooting and 16 rebounds, Jordyn Buchanan with 23 points and six threes, and Brayden Reynolds with 13 assists guiding an offense that finished at 48.6% overall with 56 points in the paint.
Fayetteville State's season closes with a CIAA championship, a 17‑game win streak into March, and a quarterfinal showing built on pace, depth, and toughness—an arc that sets the program's bar even higher for what comes next.
