Following a gritty 77-73 road victory over Samford on Wednesday, the Furman Paladins (13-5, 4-1 SoCon) return to a sold-out Timmons Arena for the 155th meeting of the I-85 rivalry. The Paladins enter the afternoon tied for first in the conference standings, while the Wofford Terriers (11-7, 3-2 SoCon) look to stop a two-game skid after a 76-67 home loss to Chattanooga.
With both programs fighting for leverage at the top of the league, this afternoon’s clash in Greenville promises to be another classic chapter in a rivalry that dates back to 1908.
The Terriers Scouting Report
Under first-year head coach Kevin Giltner, the Terriers have leaned into a revamped roster featuring dynamic transfers and rising sophomores.
• The Go-To Scorer: Kahmare Holmes. The sophomore guard has taken a massive leap this season. He led Wofford with 22 points and 7 rebounds against Chattanooga and is arguably the most athletic wing in the league.
• The Floor General: Cayden Vasko. The Central Michigan transfer has become the engine of the Wofford offense. He is a triple-threat guard who posted 15 points and 6 assists in their last outing.
• The Perimeter Shooter: Nils Machowski. A transfer from UCF, Machowski is a high-IQ guard who can fill it up quickly. He provided 14 points on Wednesday and is the player Furman cannot afford to lose in transition. He shot 66% from three against Mercer going 8-12.
• The Interior Length: Brian Sumpter. The freshman forward provides the rim protection and rebounding that anchors the Wofford defense.
The Paladins: Survival of the Fittest
Furman continues to prove that “next man up” isn’t just a cliché, it’s their identity. Despite a rotation thinned by numerous injuries, the Dins are playing arguably their best basketball of the season.
• The Alex Wilkins Show: Wilkins exploded for a career-high 28 points and 5 assists in the win over Samford, essentially willing the Paladins to a victory in a hostile environment.
• The Double-Double Machine: Charles Johnston has been a force for the Dins. He followed up a 15-rebound game with another 14-rebound performance on Wednesday. His ability to control the glass while playing heavy minutes is the backbone of Furman’s current three-game win streak.
• The Defensive Catalyst: Eddrin Bronson and Ben Vander Wal provided the veteran stability needed to close out Samford. While their scoring numbers vary, their ability to switch defensively and limit live-ball turnovers has been the difference-maker.
• Managing the Bench: With Cooper Bowser, Asa Thomas, Tom House, and Collin O’Neal still sidelined, the Paladins relied on Cole Bowser and Abijah Franklin (8 points each vs. Samford) for crucial production. Keeping these young contributors out of foul trouble is paramount today.
Three Keys to the Game
1. Transition Discipline Wofford’s Holmes and Vasko love to push the pace off misses. A shorthanded Furman team must be elite in its transition retreat to prevent the Terriers from getting easy buckets before the defense can set.
2. Timmons will be Rocking With a sell-out crowd expected, the atmosphere will be electric. Furman must use that energy to fuel their defensive intensity without becoming over-aggressive and sending Wofford to the free-throw line, where the Terriers often find their rhythm.
3. The Battle of the Boards Wofford is a physical team that thrives on second-chance points. Charles Johnston cannot do it alone. The Paladin guards, must crash the defensive glass to limit Wofford to “one-and-done” possessions.
The Forecast
This is a matchup between the SoCon’s most resilient team and a Wofford squad desperate to stay in the title race. If Furman can replicate the defensive performance they showed in Birmingham and get another efficient night from Alex Wilkins, they will hold their spot at the top of the SoCon.
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