SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — Furman avenged an earlier loss to Wofford with a 76-67 men’s basketball victory on Saturday at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The Paladins built a seven-point halftime lead behind efficient shooting, finishing 9 of 17 from 3-point range. Wofford struggled from deep, making just 7 of 26 attempts. Asa Thomas led Furman with 18 points, while Alex Wilkins added 15 points and five assists. Kahmare Holmes scored a game-high 20 points for the Terriers in the loss. Both teams are now 18-11 overall. An announced crowd of 3,181 watched the Southern Conference matchup.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — In a critical Southern Conference clash with postseason implications, the Furman Paladins avenged an earlier loss and snapped a two-game skid with a gritty 76-67 road victory over the Wofford Terriers on Saturday night at a packed Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. A crowd of 3,181 saw the two teams, now tied with identical 18-11 overall records, battle in a contest defined by Furman’s efficient offense and Wofford’s persistent struggles from beyond the arc. The Paladins, who lost to Wofford by four points at home just over a month ago, never trailed after the opening minute and led by as many as 14 points in the second half, weathering every Terrier push to secure the win. The most decisive stretch of the game came late in the first half, turning a narrow Furman lead into a cushion that would last. Leading 23-21 with just over seven minutes remaining before halftime, the Paladins unleashed a 14-2 run that showcased their offensive versatility. Reserve guard Abijah Franklin, a Greenville native, ignited the surge with back-to-back three-pointers. Center Charles Johnston of Sydney, Australia, added a hook shot, and Asa Thomas capped the run with his fourth three-pointer of the half, giving Furman a 37-23 advantage. Wofford, which shot a frigid 7 for 26 from three-point range for the game, could not mount a consistent offensive challenge. The Terriers missed eight consecutive field goal attempts during that pivotal Furman run and went into halftime down 43-36 despite a late flurry. The second half followed a similar pattern. Every time Wofford, led by the dynamic Kahmare Holmes of Charlotte, North Carolina, would trim the deficit to single digits, Furman had an answer. Holmes finished with a game-high 20 points, but the Paladins’ balanced attack proved superior. When Holmes hit a three-pointer to pull Wofford within 56-49 midway through the second half, Furman responded with a quick 6-0 spurt, highlighted by a Cooper Bowser dunk off a steal and assist from Alex Wilkins. Furman’s offensive execution was the story, as they posted an offensive rating of 115.0 points per 100 possessions. They shot 51.9% from the field (27 of 52) and a scorching 52.9% from three-point range (9 of 17). Thomas led the Paladins with 18 points, all on three-pointers, in just 28 minutes. Johnston provided a strong interior presence with 13 points and two blocks, while Bowser added 13 points and Wilkins chipped in 15 points and a game-high five assists. Wofford, by contrast, managed only a 104.6 offensive rating. Beyond their three-point woes, they compounded their problems by making only 10 of 19 free throws. Cayden Vasko supported Holmes with 13 points, and fellow Australian Rex Stirling added 10 points and three assists, but the Terriers’ nine offensive rebounds and slight edge in turnovers forced could not overcome their shooting deficiencies. Defensively, Furman’s ability to protect the paint with Johnston and Bowser, coupled with disciplined close-outs on Wofford’s shooters, formed the foundation of the win. The Paladins also committed only 10 turnovers against an active Wofford defense that recorded six steals. The victory moves Furman into a tie with Wofford in the conference standings as the regular season enters its final stretch. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, Wofford had been projected with a 62.8% probability to win, making the Paladins’ wire-to-wire performance a significant upset. Both teams continue Southern Conference play on Wednesday. Furman returns home to host The Citadel, while Wofford travels to face East Tennessee State.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — A critical Southern Conference men’s basketball matchup with postseason implications is set for Saturday when the Wofford Terriers host the Furman Paladins at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. Both teams enter the Feb. 21 contest looking to solidify their positioning for the conference tournament. Wofford (18-10 overall) holds a narrow edge in the standings over Furman (17-11), adding significance to the regular-season finale between the in-state rivals. The Terriers, who won the first meeting 74-70 in Greenville on Jan. 17, will lean on guard Kahmare Holmes. He is coming off a 22-point, 5-assist performance in Wednesday’s 82-76 win over Virginia Military Institute and had a dominant 27-point, 9-rebound, 7-assist outing in a win over Mercer last month. Furman aims to avenge the earlier loss and snap a two-game skid, having fallen 78-69 to East Tennessee State on Wednesday. The Paladins will rely on the dynamic play of guard Alex Wilkins, who scored 21 points in that loss and has been a consistent offensive force. He erupted for 33 points in a win over Chattanooga on Feb. 1 and averaged 22.4 points over an eight-game stretch in January and February. Recent form favors the home team. Wofford has won four of its last five, while Furman has dropped four of its last six, including three losses by five points or fewer. The game will feature a contrast in momentum. Wofford’s balanced attack, which also includes Brendan Rigsbee (15 points vs. VMI), seeks to capitalize on home court. Furman, which also gets production from Charles Johnston and Cooper Bowser, needs a road win to regain confidence before the conference tournament. Tipoff is scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Spartanburg.