Fayetteville State Broncos Roar into CIAA Championship Game, Eyeing Historic Double

The Fayetteville State Broncos men's basketball team is one step closer to an elusive conference championship, thanks to a decisive 90-68 victory over the Johnson C. Smith Golden Bulls in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) tournament semifinals. This hard-fought win not only propels the Broncos into the championship game but also sets the stage for a potential historic double, as the Fayetteville State women's team is also preparing to face Winston-Salem State for the CIAA title.

Broncos Overcome Slow Start to Steamroll the Golden Bulls

The Broncos got off to a sluggish start, trailing 17-3 in the early minutes of the game. However, they quickly regained their footing, trading runs with the Golden Bulls throughout the first half. Just before the intermission, Johnson C. Smith went on a 21-9 run to pull within striking distance, setting the stage for a thrilling second-half showdown.

Fayetteville State wasted no time in the second half, unleashing a 25-10 run to build a commanding 20-point lead. Leading the charge was senior guard Larry Howell, who poured in a game-high 23 points, including a perfect 13-of-14 from the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Travon Cooper II also had a stellar performance, scoring 21 points on an efficient 75% shooting, including a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc.

Johnson C. Smith head coach Antwain Banks acknowledged the impact of Fayetteville State's style of play, stating, "Their pressure kind of sped us up; we turned it over 17 times. Offensively, they were disruptive, and we had some first-side shots. Too much one-on-one, we didn't really have enough ball movement or enough body movement.

Fayetteville State head coach Devin Hoehn attributed his team's second-half surge to a simple formula: "We just played harder. We knew they had been playing tough games the past couple of days, and we had a rest day. So, I told our guys we have to make it look like we had a day off. With this press, our guys jumped on them pretty good in the first five minutes of the second half and kind of cruised from that point on."

"It was a team win for sure, the bench, everybody was involved."

The Broncos now set their sights on the CIAA championship game, where they will face a familiar foe in Bluefield State, a team that Fayetteville State head coach Devin Hoehn led to the conference title game just a season ago.

A Historic Opportunity for the HBCU Community

As the Fayetteville State Broncos prepare for the CIAA championship game, the HBCU community is eagerly watching, hopeful that the program can accomplish a rare feat: winning both the men's and women's conference titles in the same year. This accomplishment would be a testament to the outstanding basketball programs at Fayetteville State and would serve as a source of immense pride for the entire HBCU community.

The last time a CIAA school achieved this "double" was in 2018, when Virginia Union University claimed both the men's and women's championships. Should the Broncos succeed in their quest, it would be a remarkable achievement that would further solidify Fayetteville State's status as a powerhouse within the CIAA and the broader HBCU landscape. The HBCU community would undoubtedly celebrate this historic triumph, as it would not only showcase the exceptional talent and dedication of the student-athletes but also the unwavering support and pride that define the HBCU experience.

Originally reported by HBCU Sports.