Behind a dominant second-half surge and a true next-man-up mentality, Fayetteville State snapped Virginia Union’s 13-game winning streak, the longest active streak in HBCU basketball, with a convincing 75–62 victory in a marquee CIAA hoops matchup. As a result, the Broncos handed the nationally ranked Panthers their first loss in more than a month, signaling a pivotal moment in the season.“Big team win. That’s all I can say — team win,” Fayetteville State’s head coach said afterward. “Guys stepped up. We were in foul trouble, guys got hurt — next man up. Guys stepped up.”First Half Sets the ToneEarly on, the opening half was a grind. Fayetteville State held a slim 31–29 lead at the break, thanks in part to efficient shooting. The Broncos connected on 44.4 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from three-point range.Meanwhile, Virginia Union struggled to find an offensive rhythm, shooting just 29.7 percent overall. Still, the Panthers stayed within striking distance by applying defensive pressure and generating second-chance opportunities.However, everything changed after the break.
