| Two HBCU programs — Bluefield State and Fayetteville State switched coaches and met in a CIAA championship game that went to the wire. Fayetteville State rallied from a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat Bluefield State 71-68, claiming the CIAA title and the league’s automatic NCAA Division II Tournament bid. Luke D’Alessio coached Fayetteville State from 2019 to 2025. Devin Hoehn resigned from Bluefield State last April and was named Fayetteville State’s head coach the next day. Weeks later, D’Alessio took the Bluefield State job.Saturday inside CFG Bank Arena, the two HBCU programs met again — this time for the 2026 CIAA Men’s Basketball Championship.And the game itself delivered. |
