December 30, 2003

PROWELL PACES HOT SHOOTING FURMAN TO 92-56 WIN OVER LIPSCOMB
IN JACK IN THE BOX FURMAN HOLIDAY CLASSIC CHAMPIONSHIP

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Quan Prowell scored a game high 18 points and sparked a hot shooting attack that carried Furman to a 92-56 win over Lipscomb in the championship game of the Jack In The Box Furman Holiday Classic Tuesday evening at Timmons Arena.

Prowell, a 6-foot-7 freshman forward from Columbus, Ga., and the tournament's MVP, went 7-of-10 from the field and made four three-pointers in 19 minutes of action in helping Furman post its best shooting performance of the season (33x54, 61.1 percent). The Paladins also tied a school record for three pointers made, converting on 13-of-23 shots from beyond the arc (56.5 percent).

The championship represented the first tournament title for Furman (7-4) since the Paladins downed Marshall 80-62 in Roanoke, Va., to win the 1980 Southern Conference crown.

"I'm extremely proud of this team in winning the program's first tournament championship of any kind in 23 years," said Furman head coach Larry Davis, whose squad also notched its fifth win in the last six games and eighth straight home victory. "We've got a lot of work to do and a lot of growing up to do, but I like what I'm seeing as far as unselfish play and effort -- team basketball. Last night (62-49 win over Bethune-Cookman) we struggled offensively and won the game on defense. Tonight we shot the ball very well and played solid defense. It was a complete effort."

Joining Prowell in double figures were Robby Bostain with 17 points and Moussa Diagne with 12 points. Eric Webb added a season high nine assists.

Brian Fisk paced Lipscomb (2-7) with 16 points.

Shooting a sizzling 69.6 percent from the field (16x23) in the game's first 20 minutes, Furman wasted little time in taking control. A pair of Prowell three-pointers and a trey from Moussa Diagne helped ignite a 13-3 spurt for a 20-7 lead seven minutes into the contest.

After a Russell Hankins three-pointer made it 23-17 with 10:14 left, Furman fashioned a 23-9 run the rest of the way, highlighted by a Bostain three-pointer as time expired, to grab a commanding 46-26 lead.

The Paladins stayed hot in the second half and extended their cushion to 25 points following a Nick Sanders three-pointer that made it 56-31 at the 15:33 juncture.

In addition to solid shooting, Furman racked up a 41-28 advantage on the boards and tallied 25 assists.

Bostain and Sanders joined Prowell on the all-tournament team, which also included Lipscomb’s Brian Fisk, Charleston Southern’s Nathan Ball, and Bethune-Cookman's Diondre Larmond.

Charleston Southern defeated Bethune-Cookman 50-48 in Tuesday's consolation game.

Furman returns to action on Jan. 5 when it entertains defending Southern Conference Tournament champion East Tennessee State at Timmons Arena in a 7:00 p.m. game. The Paladins downed the Buccaneers 84-71 in Johnson City last year.