Leading most of the game, Fayetteville State almost let victory slip away, but Zeke Mayes' lay-up with 12 seconds left gave the Broncos a 61-60 victory over Saint Augustine's College in a key CIAA Western Division basketball meeting at Capel Arena on Saturday, February 10, 2007.

The Broncos (14-9, 10-6 CIAA, 5-0 Western Division) maintained their division lead over the Falcons (15-7, 11-5 CIAA, 3-2 Western Division), who were coming off a 116-104 loss to Bowie State on Thursday, February 8, 2007.

Saturday's televised contest was not decided, however, until the Falcons missed three chances at winning in the final three seconds. A floater in the lane by senior guard Antonio Fitzgerald (Danville, VA) rolled out the rim and the ensuing tip-in attempt by a Falcons' player missed. Senior guard-forward Nicholas King (Philadelphia, PA) grabbed the rebound but his medium-ranged shot was blocked as the horn sounded. King was knocked to the floor as his shot was blocked but no foul was called.

Fitzgerald, who scored a season-low 11 points on three of 11 shooting, canned two free throws for a 60-59 Falcons' lead with 25 seconds left before Mayes made a driving lay-up for the game-winning points. Mayes finished with 19 points, tying him for team scoring honors with Jesse Fells.

The Broncos won despite shooting 37.5 percent including 28 percent in the second half, but they held the Falcons under 70 points. The Falcons are 1-4 when scoring less than 70 points.

King led the Falcons with 22 points followed by senior guard-forward Claude Neeley (Tallahassee, FL), who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. The Falcons shot 40.7 percent for the game.

Playing in front of 4,018 mostly Bronco fans, Fayetteville State took control early as they led 35-27 at halftime. In the second half, the Falcons applied full-court pressure to climb back in the game. Two Fitzgerald free throws gave the Falcons a 52-51 lead with six minutes left. It was the Falcons' first lead since early in the first half.

The Falcons would not lead again until Fitzgerald's free throws in the closing seconds.

After two straight losses, the Falcons will regroup on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, against Johnson C. Smith at home starting at 7:30 p.m. The contest is the first of four consecutive home games at Emery Gymnasium to end the season for the Falcons.