BALTIMORE, MD — When the moment demanded a star, Terrell Williams rose and delivered a performance worthy of championship history. Behind his clutch shot-making and unwavering poise, Fayetteville State (23-6) stormed back from an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Bluefield State (16-15) 71–68 and claim the 2026 CIAA Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday afternoon at CFG Bank Arena.

Williams finished with 29 points, earning both Food Lion Player of the Game honors and being crowned the CIAA Tournament MVP, becoming the latest Bronco to etch his name into Fayetteville State lore. It marks the program’s return to the top of the conference behind grit, defense, and timely execution.

Bluefield State entered confident and loose, and it showed. The Big Blue executed with efficiency early, led by Ellija Preddy, who hit tough jumpers and attacked downhill on his way to a 20-point effort. Anthony Latty dominated the paint with energy and physicality, finishing the half with multiple putbacks and a pair of emphatic dunks that fueled a 28–14 lead.

But even as shots failed to fall, Fayetteville State refused to fold.

Williams buried two early threes to keep the Broncos afloat, and Darius Boben provided steady scoring inside to chip away at the deficit. Larry Howell added a strong drive and a free throw to cut the margin, while Travon Cooper drilled a wing three to steady momentum.

Still, Bluefield State’s shot-making carried it to a 40–32 halftime advantage, leaving the Broncos with work to do.

Championship games are defined by responses — and Fayetteville State delivered.

Williams opened the half with a layup and a deep three, immediately slicing the deficit to one possession and re-energizing the blue-and-white in the stands. But Bluefield State answered again, pushing the lead back to double digits behind Latty’s inside scoring and Preddy’s pull-up shooting.

Then the game changed.

Boben sparked the surge with back-to-back fastbreak layups off defensive pressure, including a steal by Romeo Aquino that ignited the run. Ezekiel Cannedy stepped into a big three to trim the gap to five, and moments later, Aquino scored again inside to make it 57–54.

As the Broncos’ defense tightened, turnovers piled up for Bluefield State — and Fayetteville State capitalized. Williams sank two free throws to pull within one, and Aquino tied the game moments later with another pair at the stripe.

With momentum fully shifting, Williams delivered again, attacking the lane for a go-ahead layup to give Fayetteville State its first lead since the opening minutes. Bluefield State briefly reclaimed the lead with a driving finish, but Howell responded with the shot of the night — a deep three from the left wing to put Fayetteville State ahead 67–65. After a defensive stop, Howell struck again, finishing in transition after a Darius Boben steal to extend the lead to four.

Bluefield State refused to back down. Preddy hit a contested three with 32 seconds remaining to cut the margin to two. But the Broncos—calm, composed, and built for the moment—executed to the finish.

Aquino sank a clutch free throw to make it a three-point game, and after the Big Blue forced a turnover, the defense came through one final time. Howell secured the rebound off a missed desperation three, was fouled, and knocked down the final free throw to close out the championship.

A final heave from Bluefield State missed at the horn, and the Broncos stormed the court as blue confetti filled the arena.

Fayetteville State’s title was built on timely shooting and disruptive defense. The Broncos shot 43.8 percent from three, turned 16 steals into 25 points off turnovers, and flipped the game with a 39–28 second half that showcased their toughness and composure. Beyond Williams’ 29 and Howell’s 14, Boben’s 14 points proved decisive, with key contributions from Aquino’s late-game free throws and Ezekiel Cannedy’s momentum three that trimmed the gap during the surge. Travon Cooper added a first-half triple that stemmed the tide when Bluefield State threatened to run away.

Bluefield State’s effort was worthy of the stage. Preddy’s 20, Latty’s 18 and 10, and Pierre’s 13 paced a group that shot 45.6 percent from the field and controlled stretches of the glass. But in the end, Fayetteville State’s depth of playmakers and a closer in Williams proved the difference, as the Broncos out-executed the Big Blue in the final possessions that decide championships.

Fayetteville State’s championship run not only delivered the program its latest CIAA crown, but it also secured what every team chases at this time of year: a place in the postseason. By winning the CIAA title, the Broncos clinched an automatic berth into the NCAA Atlantic Regional Tournament, guaranteeing their season continues on the national stage.

The Broncos will now turn their attention to the NCAA Selection Show on Sunday, March 8, on NCAA.com, where they will learn their seed, matchup, and regional destination. 

2026 CIAA Men’s Basketball All-Tournament Team

• Jacob Cooper - Virginia State
• Alex Atkinson - Claflin
• Larry Howell - Fayetteville State
• Julius Olanewaju - Lincoln (PA)
• Anthony Davenport - Bluefield State
• Malachi Dark - Virginia Union
• Terrell Williams - Fayetteville State
• Myles Pierre - Bluefield State
• K.J. West - Bowie State
• Jared Davis - Johnson C. Smith

2026 CIAA Men’s Basketball Most Valuable Player
Terrell Williams - Fayetteville State
2026 CIAA Men’s Team Sportsmanship Award
Johnson C. Smith