The atmosphere at Timmons Arena is going to be electric tonight for two reasons: Senior Night and the final push for a top-six seed in Asheville. After a massive 76-67 road win at Wofford where the Paladins finally exercised their second-half demons and closed out a rival, Furman (18-11, 9-7 SoCon) returns home to host The Citadel (9-20, 6-10 SoCon) at 6:00 PM.
A win tonight would go a long way in ensuring the Paladins avoid the Friday night game at the SoCon Tournament. With the rotation fully healthy and momentum on their side, this is about taking care of business against a scrappy Bulldog team that always plays the Dins tough.
Honoring the Vets
Furman will honor four seniors. This group has combined for 43 wins over the last two seasons and a massive chunk of this year’s production.
Charles Johnston: The Australia native has been an absolute double-double machine. He leads the team in rebounding and has provided the interior grit Furman desperately needed after last year’s departures.
Tom House: The Florida State transfer brought a veteran perimeter presence. When he’s hitting from deep, this offensive unit is nearly impossible to stop.
Ben Vander Wal: A glue guy in every sense of the word. His versatility on both ends of the floor has allowed Bob Richey to play smaller, faster lineups. He is also a leader for this team with a veteran presence which has greatly contributed to their success.
Thomas Tillman: A Charleston native who has been a dedicated part of the culture. We can’t forget the times the student section went wild for him on the court.
Scouting the Bulldogs
Ed Conroy’s Bulldogs have had a rough stretch, losing four straight, but they are a spoiler team. They play with a slow, deliberate pace that can frustrate Furman’s high-octane transition game.
Braxton Williams (13.9 PPG): He is the guy who can get hot and stay hot. He led them with 26 points in their last outing and was instrumental in the comeback win back in January.
Sola Adebisi: He’s the defensive anchor, leading them in blocks and steals. His matchup with Charles Johnston in the paint will determine who controls the glass.
Three Keys to the Game
1. Managing the Emotions Senior Night can be a double-edged sword. Furman needs to settle into their offensive sets early and trust the system rather than hunting for highlight-reel plays in the first five minutes.
2. Win the Rebounding Battle Johnston and Bowser have to be disciplined with their box-outs. If Furman limits the Bulldogs to one shot per possession, they can turn defensive stops into transition buckets, where they are dangerous.
3. Perimeter Defense The Citadel lives and dies by the three-point line. In the first meeting (an 82-75 Furman win), the Paladins allowed a few too many open looks in the second half.
The Outlook
The Paladins showed a lot of maturity in their win over Wofford, proving they can hold a lead and execute down the stretch. If they bring that same defensive intensity to Timmons tonight, they should be able to send the seniors out with a win in their final regular-season home game.
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