December 29, 2003
SECOND HALF SURGE LEADS FURMAN
PAST BETHUNE-COOKMAN 62-49;
PALADINS TO FACE LIPSCOMB IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TUESDAY
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Quan Prowell’s 14 points paced four double figure scorers and helped Furman erase a four-point halftime deficit on the way to a 62-49 win over Bethune-Cookman in Jack In The Box Furman Holiday Classic first round action Monday night at Timmons Arena.
In claiming its fourth win in its last five games and seventh consecutive home decision, Furman (6-4) advances to Tuesday’s championship game against Lipscomb, which downed Charleston Southern 66-50 in other first round action on Monday. Tipoff for the Furman-Lipscomb contest is scheduled for approximately 7:45 p.m or 30 minutes after the completion of the consolation game.
Bethune-Cookman (0-7), playing its sixth consecutive road game, was paced by Diondre Larmond’s 14 points.
“This was an ugly win,” said Furman head coach Larry Davis, “but it’s the sign of a good team when you don’t play your best basketball but find a way to win. We weren’t very patient offensively, especially in the first half, but Tony Carter hit some big three-pointers and kept us in the game. And then in the second half we held them to six points over the first 12 minutes. That was the difference in the game, and then we began to smooth things out offensively and convert some opportunities.”
Prowell tallied 10 of his 14 points in the second half after Furman trailed 27-23 at intermission. He was joined in double figures by Maleye Ndoye and Tony Carter with 11 points each, and Nick Sanders with 10. Carter’s performance included a career high nine rebounds.
After an Anis Taylor jump shot put Bethune-Cookman ahead 29-23 less than a minute into the second half, Furman fashioned a 15-1 run to take a 38-30 lead following a steal and dunk by Moussa Diagne with 10:04 to go.
The Paladins made it 45-33 on Nodye’s three-pointer with 7:29 left and never let Bethune-Cookman get close the rest of the way.
Furman’s second half surge was keyed by solid defense as the Paladins limited the Wildcats to only 22 points and 25.0 percent shooting (8x32) from the field over the final 20 minutes. Bethune-Cookman finished the game shooting only 32.8 percent (19x58).
The Paladins, meanwhile, warmed up in the second half, converting 47.6 percent of their shots (10x21) to finish the contest at a 39.2 percent clip (20x51). Furman also knocked down 18-of-24 free throws in the second half after failing to get to the line in the first period.
If Furman defeats Lipscomb in Tuesday’s championship game, it will mark the first tournament victory by a Furman team since the Paladins defeated Marshall 80-62 to win the 1980 Southern Conference championship.