December 28, 2001
SOUCHU'S 22 LEADS FURMAN PAST
MACALESTER 81-54
IN FIRST ROUND OF POINSETTIA CLASSIC
GREENVILLE -- Karim Souchu scored a game high 22 points to lead Furman to an easy 81-54 win over Macalester in first round action of the 2001 Greenville Children's Hospital Poinsettia Classic Friday night at Timmons Arena.
Souchu converted 9-of-15 field goals and 4-of-6 3-pointers to pace Furman (7-3) to their sixth straight home win of the 2001-02 season. He was joined in double figures by Guilherme Da Luz with 13 points and Anthony Thomas with 12.
Macalester (4-3) was led by Patrick Russell's 18 points. Doug Benson added 14 points and a game high 12 rebounds for the Scots.
"I thought we came out with a lot of intensity and took control early," said Furman head coach Larry Davis. "We didn't rebound very well, but I like the fact that we maintained our concentration and played solid defense for much the game."
Fuman shot 47.9 percent from the field (34x71) and converted 8-of-20 attempts (40.0 percent) from 3-point range. The Scots, meanwhile, shot only 32.2 percent from the field (19x59) and committed 26 turnovers. Macalester posted a 47-38 rebounding advantage.
Anthony Thomas' jump shot at the 14:35 mark gave the Paladins a 17-6 lead, and the Paladins steadily added to their double digit advantage the rest of the way.
The win over Macalester advances Furman into Saturday's 8:00 p.m. tournament championship game against Gardner Webb, which knocked off Yale 79-69 in the other first round contest Friday evening. Tip off for the consolation game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Saturday's championship game will be televised live by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast.