TUSCALOOSA, Ala.-- The University of Alabama men's tennis team, ranked No. 24 in the country, got a scare from 67th-ranked Furman (1-7) as the Crimson Tide withstood a late charge to defeat the Paladins 4-3 in Tuscaloosa on Monday.  

"I knew they (Furman) were great fighters," said Alabama head coach Adam Steinberg.  "They competed really hard."

Alabama started the day by winning at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles to take the doubles point. At No. 3 doubles, Nick Beuque and Chris McRae beat Furman's Patrick Gaughan and Allen Simmons, 8-3, while Max Belski and Brad Friedman defeated Paladins Andrew Rogers and Peter Netzler 8-5 at No. 2 to clinch the doubles point. 

Alabama's William Boyles and Chris Gostek dropped their No. 1 doubles match to 15th-ranked John Chesworth and James Cameron, 8-5.  

In singles play, McRae gave the Tide a 2-0 lead by winning his No. 4 singles match 6-2, 6-4 against Furman's Ryan McCarthy. Furman then pushed the match score to 2-1 when Simmons defeated Alabama's Michael Ray Pallares at No. 6 singles, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4. 

Alabama increased its lead to 3-1 when Beuque beat Rogers 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 at No. 3 singles, but Furman bounced back when Cameron upset Alabama's Gostek, ranked 109th, at No. 2 singles, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5. 

Christian Brodersen clinched the match for the Tide when he notched a 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 victory at No. 5 singles over Gaughan. 

Furman's Chesworth defeated his second highly ranked opponent in as many days when he beat Alabama's No. 64 ranked Belski 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) at No. 1 singles. On Sunday, Chesworth upset Georgia's Brandon Wagner, the sixth-ranked player in the nation, in straight sets during Furman's 6-1 loss to the No. 3 Bulldogs.  

Furman will next travel to Dallas, Texas to face No. 20 Southern Methodist on Thursday at 2:00 p.m.  

No. 24 Alabama 4, No. 67 Furman 3
February 25, 2002
Singles Results
1.  John Chesworth (FU) d. No. 64 Max Belski (UA), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)
2.  James Cameron (FU) d. No. 109 Chris Gostek (UA), 6-4, 3-6, 7-5
3.  Nick Beuque (UA) d. Andrew Rogers (FU), 6-4, 6-7, 6-3
4.  Chris McRae (UA) d. Ryan McCarthy (FU), 6-2, 6-4
5.  Christian Brodersen (UA) d. Patrick Gaughan (FU), 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
6.  Allen Simmons (FU) d. Michael Ray Pallares (UA), 6-3, 2-6, 6-4
Doubles Results
1.  No. 15 Chesworth/Cameron (FU) d. Boyles/Gostek (UA), 8-5
2.  Belski/Friedman (UA) d. Rogers/Peter Netzler (FU), 8-5
3.  Beuque/McRae (UA) d. Gaughan/Simmons (FU), 8-3