2002 MOUNTAIN DEW SOUTHERN CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
NORTH CHARLESTON COLISEUM
CHARLESTON, S.C. GAME
THREE
FURMAN 65, WESTERN CAROLINA 61
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Furman's Anthony Thomas made five key throws in a key second-half run to lead the Paladins to a 65-61 victory over Western Carolina Thursday evening in the first round of the 2002 Mountain Dew Southern Conference Championships at North Charleston Coliseum.
The Paladins (15-13), the fifth seed from the South Division, advance to Friday's quarterfinal round matchup with Georgia Southern, the South Division co-champion and No. 1 seed in the South. The victory improved the Paladins to 15-13 and ensured their first winning season since 1991-92 while Western Carolina's season ended at 12-16.
Thomas led the Paladins with 16 points, including 11 in the second half. Guilherme Da Luz posted 12 points and six rebounds and Karim Souchu added 11 points and six boards off the bench for the Paladins.
"I think over the last month, our team chemistry is much better," said Furman head coach Larry Davis. "I am extremely proud of Karim. He hasn't started the last few games, but it doesn't matter to him. Anthony Thomas came back and had a great second half. We played a little soft in the first half and we needed to be more physical - we did that."
Furman trailed 31-27 at the half and overcame a seven-point deficit in the second half, grabbing a 39-36 lead on a Da Luz three-pointer with 13:38 remaining. The Paladins led the rest of the way, although Western cut Furman's lead to one at the 3:25 mark.
Two Corey Largent free throws pulled the Catamounts to within 51-50 at the 3:25 mark, but Furman responded with seven straight points - five from Thomas - to push its lead back to eight and connected seven more times from the charity stripe in the final 1:43 to seal the victory.
WCU freshman Kevin Martin, the No. 10 scorer in the nation at 22.3 ppg., paced the Catamounts with 18 points. Willie Freeman chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds, while Kelvin Wylie tallied 10 points and seven boards.