In a close, topsy-turvy game that featured 16 lead changes and seven ties, Fayetteville State punched its ticket to the CIAA men’s semifinals Wednesday night with a 69-66 win over Virginia Union at CFG Bank Arena.
The Broncos (22-7, 12-4 CIAA) will take on the winner of Bluefield State-Johnson C. Smith in Friday’s semifinal. Fayetteville State is the No. 3 team in the NCAA’s Div.II Atlantic Region. Despite a gallant effort, Virginia Union will end its season at 15-15, 8-8 in the CIAA.
In a game that each team had an opportunity to win, it came down to the game’s last 45 seconds with the game tied at 66 apiece. Fayetteville State forward Mysta Goodloe, a graduate transfer, hit a layup off the glass with 17 seconds left to give the Broncos a two-point lead.
The Panthers had a chance to tie the game, but senior forward Jonathan King (22 points and six rebounds) missed a pair of free throws that would have tied the game and possibly sent it into overtime. After the missed free throw by Virginia Union, Fayetteville’s Anthony Latty rebounded the Panthers’ miss and scored the game’s final points.
Fayetteville guard Tairell Fletcher led his team with 21 points and six assists. Virginia Union Union’s Bobby Gardner led all scorers with 24 points.