Box Score Game Box (pdf)

GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Wofford men’s basketball team was defeated 69-65 by Furman on Monday night at Timmons Arena. The Paladins took a 15 point lead at the half on the strength of seven three pointers, but the Terriers were able to battle back to make it a one point game with two minutes remaining before Furman scored six of the final eight points of the game.

Wofford moves to 7-10 on the season and 1-3 in the Southern Conference. Furman is 4-11 overall and 1-3 in the SoCon. The Terriers were led by Spencer Collins with 18 points and Karl Cochran with 17 points. Lee Skinner added 13 points and had eight rebounds. The Paladins had 17 points from Kendrec Ferrara and seven different players hit three pointers.

“They were really comfortable in the first half and they are near the bottom in the league in three point percentage,” said head coach Mike Young. “They were comfortable and in rhythm and college players make that shot. They made seven in the first half with eleven assists on five turnovers. We turned that around in the second half and they turn it over 14 times. We played the way we are supposed to play in the second half and made them uncomfortable and we contested shots. We let one get away, but we have our team to blame for being in that situation down at the half.”

The Paladins hit their first four three point attempts in the game and took a 12-4 lead after three minutes of play. Furman added two more three pointers and had a 22-10 advantage at the 10:39 mark of the first half. After back-to-back buckets by Spencer Collins and Lee Skinner cut the lead to 27-18, a three pointer by Indiana Faithfull made it a 29-21 game with 4:31 on the clock. Larry Wideman banked in a three pointer for Furman to end the half as the Paladins had a 40-25 lead.

To open the second half, Spencer Collins hit a three and Karl Cochran had a lay-up off a steal to cut the lead to 40-30 after two minutes. Furman then scored the next four points until Lee Skinner had a dunk off a turnover to make it 44-32 at the 16:26 mark. Spencer Collins hit a jumper and a free throw, which was followed by a lay-up by Karl Cochran off a steal to cut the lead to 46-37 with 13:31 on the clock.

Wofford cut the lead to seven points after a bucket by Jarell Byrd, but Furman had a 52-44 lead with 9:49 left in the second half. Karl Cochran added a three pointer to make it a 52-47 game, but Furman pushed the advantage back to eight points. Two free throws by Justin Gordon and one by Lee Skinner narrowed the score to 59-54 with 5:08 on the clock. Karl Cochran hit a three to make it a 61-59 game with just under four minutes left. 

Furman hit a three with 2:45 on the clock to make it a five point lead. Spencer Collins hit two free throws and Spencer Collins put back a missed three to cut the score to 64-63 at the two minute mark. A shot clock violation gave the ball back to the Terriers but Furman forced a turnover. A free throw by the Paladins gave them a two point lead and a three in the corner by Bobby Austin as the shot clock expired made it a 68-63 game with 14 seconds left. Spencer Collins hit a lay-up for the Terriers, but one more free throw by Furman provided the 69-65 margin.

Wofford shot 43.3% from the floor while Furman shot 58.1% overall, the second highest by an opponent this season. The Terriers were 5-of-22 from with three, while the Paladins were 10-of-18 from behind the arc. Furman was 9-of-13 from the line while Wofford was 8-of-10 on free throws. Wofford had a 32 to 25 lead on the glass.

Wofford’s road trip continues on Wednesday night at UNCG and Saturday night at Elon. The next home game is Thursday, January 24 against Furman.