Charlotte, N.C. (Feb. 24, 2017) – Southern Division No. 4 seed Fayetteville State University used an 11-point flurry with under 3:00 to play to take a 70-61 upset win over Northern Division No. 2 seed Virginia State University on Friday night in the semifinals of the CIAA Men's Basketball Tournament at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.

The fourth-seeded Broncos wasted no time, quickly jumping out to a 9-0 lead over the first three minutes of the game as Joshua Dawson scored the first seven for the Broncos to go along with a Michael Tyson layup to provide the lead. The FSU lead would then balloon to 20-6 with 10:32 to play after Isaiah Vinson converted a jumper. VSU would then embark on a 10-0 run over the next 5:49 to trim the deficit to just 20-19. VSU's Kevin Williams had four points in that span to go along with five from Elijah Moore.

FSU would then go up 28-23 after Jyonte Raynor got a layup to fall with 1:06 left before the half, but the Trojans' Waymond Wright would can a three-pointer with just two seconds left to provide the 28-26 halftime cushion.

After having the lead sliced to just two points (30-28) to start the second half after a Richard Granberry layup, FSU boosted the lead back to eight points at the 16:40 mark when FSU's Josh Bryant scored back-to-back baskets for the Broncos. VSU would again respond, this time cutting the lead to four points (36-32) after another Granberry basket. VSU's Trey Brown would add a layup to make it 37-34 with 13:53 to play and at the 12:19 mark, Elijah Moore cashed in a long three-pointer to cut the FSU lead down to 41-39.

Kevin Williams then tied the game at 41-41 with a leaner at 11:43. Following a VSU miss, Cyonte Melvin knocked down a free throw to give VSU the 42-41 lead, their first of the game with 10:56 to play.

VSU pushed the lead to 48-43 following an FSU turnover when Walter Williams got a short jumper to fall. The Trojans continued their onslaught, forcing FSU to call a timeout at the 5:59 mark after Williams nailed a three-pointer to give VSU their largest lead of the game at 54-45.

Following the timeout, Fayetteville State regrouped, closing to within 54-50 after Tyson banked in a turn-around jumper with 3:52 to play. FSU would then force a VSU turnover and Dawson was true on a three-pointer, cutting the lead to 54-53. Dawson would then knock down another three-pointer on the next FSU possession, regaining the 56-54 lead for the Broncos, forcing a Trojan timeout at the 2:16 mark.

Dawson then nailed yet another three-pointer after a VSU turnover, and following the basket, a quick steal by the Broncos ended in a Josh Bryant layup, giving Fayetteville State the 61-54 lead with just 1:35 left.

A Bronco foul allowed VSU's Williams to claim two free throws with 57.8 left, cutting it to 61-56. After VSU was forced to foul and FSU's Willie Gilmore calmly converted both attempts boosting the lead back to 63-56. VSU then earned its way to the line after a missed three-pointer, with Granberry controlling the rebound and drawing the foul. His two free throws were good, cutting the FSU lead to 63-58.

After FSU inbounded, VSU was again forced to foul with 38.1, sending Dawson to the line, where he hit a free throw. Virginia State was then forced to attack the basket and was thwarted by the Bronco defense, as William Tibbs came down with the rebound. VSU was forced to foul again, and Dawson converted both shots to give FSU the 66-58 lead with 26.1 left.

With 17.2 seconds left, FSU earned another trip to the line following a Trojan miss with Dawson capitalizing on two attempts once again, boosting the FSU lead to 68-58. VSU then missed a three-pointer and Tibbs added the exclamation point with a breakaway dunk, igniting the FSU crowd. VSU then added a three-pointer as time expired to provide the 70-61 final.

FSU's Dawson scored a game-high 28 points while posting an 8-of-14 shooting effort that included five three-pointers. He also went 7-or-10 from the free throw line. Teammate Josh Bryant had 15 points while Michael Tyson secured a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Collectively the Broncos shot 53.1% (26-of-49) from the field while holding Virginia State to just 38.7% (24-of-62). The Trojans, which fell to 22-6 on the season, had four players in double figures with Richard Granberry leading the way with 16. Teammate Walter Williams had 13 while Kevin Williams and Elijah Moore each had 11 points.