Monday’s Southern Conference men’s basketball game between Furman and VMI at Timmons Arena has been canceled due to positive COVID tests and quarantine requirements within VMI’s program.
Furman, 15-7 overall and 9-4 in league play, is currently in second place in the SoCon standings following its 70-60 win at Mercer on Saturday afternoon. With their 12th straight win over the Bears, the Paladins extended their winning streak to three games entering the final week of regular season play.
Head coach Bob Richey’s squad will be back in action on Wednesday when the Paladins host The Citadel for Senior Night at Timmons Arena. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the “Voice of the Paladins”, Dan Scott, deliver the play-by-play call on ESPN Upstate at 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, 97.1 FM/ 950 AM in Spartanburg, and thru the Radio.com app.
Stay tuned to FurmanPaladins.com for updates on the Paladins and the 2020-21 men’s basketball schedule.
FURMAN NOTABLES
Furman plays the first of two home games in a 48-hour span when it entertains the VMI Keydets at 7 p.m. on Monday at Timmons Arena.
The Paladins (9-4, .692), ranked No. 16 in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 and a SoCon-best No. 75 in the latest NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) Rankings, enter the final three games of the regular season in second place in the Southern Conference standings behind UNCG (11-4, .733).
On Saturday, Noah Gurley poured in 24 points and added 10 rebounds to secure his second double-double of the season as Furman completed the regular season sweep of Mercer with a 70-60 triumph over the Bears at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Ga. Mike Bothwell contributed 17 points and six rebounds, while Jalen Slawson posted 12 points and six boards as Furman shot 52.2% from the floor and converted on 17-of-19 trips to the foul line.
Saturday’s victory marked Furman’s 12th straight over Mercer and fifth straight versus the Bears in Macon, Ga.
Furman enters Monday night’s home game having won 22 of its last 23 games at Timmons Arena and 38 in the last 41 regular season contests played in the facility. Furman is 73-12 at Timmons over the last six seasons, including 43-6 versus SoCon opposition.
Senior Alex Hunter connected on a career-best seven three-point tries to post a career-high 23 points in last Wednesday’s 78-64 win over Samford. A starter at point guard in 86 of the last 87 games for the Paladins, Hunter is averaging 10.7 points, 3.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game while leading the SoCon in assist-to-turnover ratio. He has shot 40.1% from behind the arc this season, including 42.2% from long range in SoCon play. Hunter’s 197 three-point baskets rank as the sixth most in Paladin history and the senior needs just three more to become only the fifth Paladins to ever reach 200 three-point makes.
Head coach Bob Richey (88-32), now in his fourth year, ranks in the top 10 among active NCAA Division I coaches with a .733 winning percentage. He guided Furman to 23 victories in his first year as head coach before setting school records with 25 wins in each of the last two seasons.
Clay Mounce (14.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg) grabbed two rebounds in a Dec. 15 loss at Alabama to reach 500 for his career and become just the 10th player in school history with 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 150 assists in a career. Mounce currently ranks 31st in school history with 1,231 career points.
Furman vs. VMI Series
Monday’s game marks the 102nd meeting between the Paladins and Keydets with Furman holding a 66-35 series lead.
Furman won 10 consecutive games versus VMI before the Keydets claimed a 74-73 win in Lexington, Va., on January 20, when Trey Bonham connected on a go-ahead free throw with 3.2 seconds left.
The Paladins have won five straight versus VMI at Timmons Arena, including a 74-72 overtime verdict last season.
Head coach Bob Richey sports a 6-1 record versus VMI.
Up Next:
Furman vs. The Citadel
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021 – 7:00 p.m.
Timmons Arena | Greenville, S.C.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: ESPN Upstate
