Saturday night’s CIAA matchup between Fayetteville State University and Shaw University delivered everything fans expect from elite HBCU basketball. It was emotional with big shot-making, and a momentum swing driven by championship composure.
Shaw fed off a lively home crowd early, playing with confidence and urgency as the Bears built a double-digit first-half lead. Their energy was contagious, and it showed on both ends of the floor. Shaw shot efficiently, controlled the paint, and went into halftime ahead 53–44, with the building firmly behind them.
But while Shaw had the momentum, Fayetteville State had something deeper: championship pedigree…