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Fayetteville State men’s basketball rides into Baltimore for the 2026 CIAA Tournament on an absolute heater.
The Broncos haven’t lost in two months, currently on a 14-game winning streak while going undefeated at home this season in front of the largest crowds in the league.
They’ve repeated as Southern Division champions, led by newly crowned CIAA Player of the Year Larry Howell and CIAA Sixth Man of the Year Zeke Cannedy. They brought home the conference’s top individual awards at Monday’s tournament tip-off event, which has become an annual parade of Broncos, the program boasting 10 All-CIAA selections since 2020.
Along with all that hardware, the Broncos (20-6) are bringing a relentless style of play to the CFG Arena that few can run with.
CIAA TOURNAMENT BRACKETS: 2026 CIAA basketball tournament brackets, scores, schedule
GOING FOR 3-PEAT: Fayetteville State women win 2nd straight CIAA championship in 2025
“The way that we play is not normal basketball. It’s just not,” coach Devin Hoehn said. “Our practices are not normal practices.
“The record and the results kind of speak for themselves, but this is one of the hardest systems to play in because of how taxing it is, and the second you take your foot off the gas is when you get caught, so we're just trying to keep these guys as focused as possible.”
The system of which Hoehn speaks is a fast-paced, pressure-filled onslaught that has FSU averaging a league-high 90.2 points per game on 54.7 possessions per game.
More chances to score lead to more scoring, and the Broncos push pace to create those opportunities with a swarming, full-court defense.
It’s a system honed by Division II coaching giant Jim Crutchfield, for whom Hoehn played guard at West Liberty and served on staff at Nova Southeastern before bringing the frenetic style to Bluefield State for five years – peaking with last season’s CIAA runner-up finish and subsequent NCAA D2 Tournament berth.
Now, Hoehn’s on the Bronco sideline leading a charge of thoroughbreds.
Howell is one of several players who came with Hoehn from Bluefield State.
Cannedy turned down other opportunities in order to stay.
When those paths crossed in Fayetteville, the pieces settled into place with a team-first mentality both shared.
“It was new for both of them, but they are willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win. … Very good at putting that ball in the hole, as well, but they're just great team guys, positive-energy type of guys.”
Howell and Cannedy are two of the top three scorers in the CIAA this season, with Howell averaging a league-best 21.1 points and Cannedy No. 3 in the conference with 18.1 points per game including a CIAA-high average of 3.2 3-pointers per game.
Both also rank top-three in the league in free-throw shooting percentage for an FSU squad that leads the conference in free-throw makes (668), attempts (887) and average (75.3%).
Howell is one of five Broncos who played for Hoehn at Bluefield State last season along with Terrell Willimas, Travon “Deuce” Cooper II, Romeo Aquino and Darius Boben. They made a historic run to the CIAA championship game last season, and they’re looking to run it back.
Adding Cannedy to the system gives them another level of attack, along with Kenneth Brayboy, Omari Byrd and Ibrahim Kourouma.
“He’s a lights-out shooter,” Howell said of Cannedy. “It makes our game easier because of how much focus he gets from the defense, how good he can shoot it.”
Howell shoots well from deep, too, but he’s always a threat to get downhill and he's comfortable in the mid-range.
“He can play above the rim. He can fight through contact to finish whenever he wants,” Cannedy said of Howell, who also draws multiple defenders to open up the offense for teammates.
All that offense paired with a merciless defense presents a 40-minute, foot-on-the-gas attack that has the Broncos holding a belt heading into the CIAA Tournament, looking to add another banner to those from 1973 and 2022.
“The job isn't finished,” Cannedy said, “but where we are right now, we're in a great spot; in a spot where we can control our own destiny, so that's all you can really ask for.”
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville State basketball in 2026 CIAA Tournament
Continue reading...
The Broncos haven’t lost in two months, currently on a 14-game winning streak while going undefeated at home this season in front of the largest crowds in the league.
They’ve repeated as Southern Division champions, led by newly crowned CIAA Player of the Year Larry Howell and CIAA Sixth Man of the Year Zeke Cannedy. They brought home the conference’s top individual awards at Monday’s tournament tip-off event, which has become an annual parade of Broncos, the program boasting 10 All-CIAA selections since 2020.
Along with all that hardware, the Broncos (20-6) are bringing a relentless style of play to the CFG Arena that few can run with.
CIAA TOURNAMENT BRACKETS: 2026 CIAA basketball tournament brackets, scores, schedule
GOING FOR 3-PEAT: Fayetteville State women win 2nd straight CIAA championship in 2025
“The way that we play is not normal basketball. It’s just not,” coach Devin Hoehn said. “Our practices are not normal practices.
“The record and the results kind of speak for themselves, but this is one of the hardest systems to play in because of how taxing it is, and the second you take your foot off the gas is when you get caught, so we're just trying to keep these guys as focused as possible.”
The system of which Hoehn speaks is a fast-paced, pressure-filled onslaught that has FSU averaging a league-high 90.2 points per game on 54.7 possessions per game.
More chances to score lead to more scoring, and the Broncos push pace to create those opportunities with a swarming, full-court defense.
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It’s a system honed by Division II coaching giant Jim Crutchfield, for whom Hoehn played guard at West Liberty and served on staff at Nova Southeastern before bringing the frenetic style to Bluefield State for five years – peaking with last season’s CIAA runner-up finish and subsequent NCAA D2 Tournament berth.
Now, Hoehn’s on the Bronco sideline leading a charge of thoroughbreds.
Howell is one of several players who came with Hoehn from Bluefield State.
Cannedy turned down other opportunities in order to stay.
When those paths crossed in Fayetteville, the pieces settled into place with a team-first mentality both shared.
“It was new for both of them, but they are willing to do whatever it takes for the team to win. … Very good at putting that ball in the hole, as well, but they're just great team guys, positive-energy type of guys.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Howell and Cannedy are two of the top three scorers in the CIAA this season, with Howell averaging a league-best 21.1 points and Cannedy No. 3 in the conference with 18.1 points per game including a CIAA-high average of 3.2 3-pointers per game.
Both also rank top-three in the league in free-throw shooting percentage for an FSU squad that leads the conference in free-throw makes (668), attempts (887) and average (75.3%).
Howell is one of five Broncos who played for Hoehn at Bluefield State last season along with Terrell Willimas, Travon “Deuce” Cooper II, Romeo Aquino and Darius Boben. They made a historic run to the CIAA championship game last season, and they’re looking to run it back.
Adding Cannedy to the system gives them another level of attack, along with Kenneth Brayboy, Omari Byrd and Ibrahim Kourouma.
“He’s a lights-out shooter,” Howell said of Cannedy. “It makes our game easier because of how much focus he gets from the defense, how good he can shoot it.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Howell shoots well from deep, too, but he’s always a threat to get downhill and he's comfortable in the mid-range.
“He can play above the rim. He can fight through contact to finish whenever he wants,” Cannedy said of Howell, who also draws multiple defenders to open up the offense for teammates.
All that offense paired with a merciless defense presents a 40-minute, foot-on-the-gas attack that has the Broncos holding a belt heading into the CIAA Tournament, looking to add another banner to those from 1973 and 2022.
“The job isn't finished,” Cannedy said, “but where we are right now, we're in a great spot; in a spot where we can control our own destiny, so that's all you can really ask for.”
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Fayetteville State basketball in 2026 CIAA Tournament
Continue reading...
