Furman dominated The Citadel in their final home game of the regular season, securing a 85-42 statement victory to close out February. The Paladins' impressive performance boosted their record to 22-8 overall and 10-7 in the Southern Conference, clinching a crucial first-round bye in the upcoming SoCon Men's Basketball Championship. Meanwhile, The Citadel's struggles continued, dropping their record to 5-23 overall and a winless 0-17 in conference play.
From the tip-off, Furman established control, holding The Citadel to a mere two points within the first eight minutes and building a 16-2 lead. The Paladins' stifling defense was the story of the first half, limiting The Citadel to just 4-for-26 shooting (15.4%). This defensive dominance resulted in a 44-11 halftime advantage.
The second half mirrored the first, with Furman extending their lead to 45 points (67-22) within the first nine minutes. The Paladins' offense was efficient, finishing the game with a 52.5% field goal percentage and a solid 45.5% from three-point range (15-of-33).
Tom House and PJay Smith Jr. led the scoring effort, each contributing 19 points. House's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he went a perfect 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. Garrett Hien added 14 points, reaching the 1,000-point milestone for his career. Hien also hit a career milestone becoming the 7th player in program history to reach 1000 points, 500 rebounds, and 250 assists.
Defensively, Furman was equally impressive. They held The Citadel to a season-low 25% shooting from the field and a mere 20.8% (5-of-24) from three-point range. Furman also outscored The Citadel 17-2 in transition and 28-14 in the paint. The Dins had 47 deflections, and out-rebounded the Citadel 45/35.
Brody Fox was the lone bright spot for The Citadel, scoring 14 points.
The 42 points allowed by Furman marked a new defensive low during Coach Bob Richey's tenure and the fewest allowed to a SoCon opponent since 2016-17.
With a dominant victory in their home finale, Furman carries significant momentum into their crucial regular-season closer against Wofford. This rivalry clash will not only test the Paladins' resilience on the road but also play a pivotal role in shaping their seeding for the highly anticipated SoCon Tournament.