Terriers Post Largest Margin by a of Victory in Series Since 2014
Furman is 14-3 following Monday night's result, and if you asked most fans before the season, that would be a start that they would have taken through the first 17 games. However, there are some alarm bells starting to sound after the Paladins have lost two out of their last three SoCon games by double digits, with the latest coming on the home hardwood to arch-rival Wofford.
The Paladins are also officially in a funk and for the first time in the 2024-25 basketball season, Paladins head coach Bob Richey has a homework assignment, and it will be to figure out the Paladins' shooting woes, as the Paladins fell for the first time on their home floor this season, dropping an 81-62 contest to visiting Wofford.
In a game that was postponed due to snow, it jam-packed the week for both Furman and Wofford, however, the Terriers looked the fresher team from start-to-finish, and if there would have been a way to have played that game on Saturday, it might have benefitted the Paladins much more to have just played this game on Saturday during the snow event. Either way, Wofford came to play, while Furman did not.
The loss marked Furman's worst home loss since Nov. 29, 2017, when the Paladins fell 93-74 to Winthrop and the worst home loss to a Southern Conference foe Feb. 24, 2014, when Furman fell to former SoCon member Elon, 78-49.
It was the second time in the past three games that the Paladins have been outscored from beyond the arc, as the Terriers were +15 from three-point range, posting a 39-24 edge in that category. The Terriers also owned the paint, posting an 34-28 edge in scoring in the shaded area. It all combined to help the Terriers snap what was a five-game losing streak to Furman in games played in Greenville.
Wofford's win was somewhat reminiscent of Furman's 75-50 win over the Terriers at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium on Jan. 22, 2022. That still remains Wofford's worst-ever home loss at the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.
Wofford's win saw it improve to above .500 overall for the season, at 9-8 overall and 3-1 in Southern Conference play, while Furman falls to 14-3 overall and 2-2 in SoCon Play. Furman has now registered two of its three worst SoCon losses by margin under ninth-year head coach Bob Richey this season, with the 19-point setback to Wofford marking the second-worst loss SoCon loss under Richey. Only the 79-56 loss at East Tennessee State on Dec. 29, 2018 ranking as a larger margin of defeat.
The Terriers asserted their muscle and grit from the opening tip and never looked back and was never really challenged in getting the 19-point road win and it was the Terriers' largest margin of victory in the series since picking up what was a 75-49 win over Furman on Jan, 22, 2015. Wofford improved to 34-22 against the Paladins since joining the Southern Conference during the as a member in 1997-98, while Furman now leads the overall series 92-64.
Wofford was led on the night by Dillon Bailey's 19 points, while Corey Tripp added 16 and Jackson Sivills finished with 12 to finish out the double-figure scorers for the Terriers. Kyler Filewich was once again mastered the glass, posting a game-high 12 rebounds, including six offensive boards, as the Terriers owned a huge 17-rebound (52-35) advantage in the game, which is indicative of their overall dominance and energy they brought to the rivalry matchup.
For Filewich, its his fifth double-digit rebounding game in his last six outings, and his 10th double-digit rebounding effort of the season. He also led the Wofford with six assists to finish with an impressive line of nine points, six assists, 12 rebounds, one steal and one block.
Filewich reminds me of former Purdue Boilermaker Bryan Cardinal or a player more familiar to the league in a former era, in Davidson's Max Paulus-Gosselin. He's Wofford's ultimate "glue guy" that isn't afraid to get a little dirty to get the job done. All championship-level teams require such an ingredient.
Bailey was simply sensational all night for Wofford, hitting shots that could best be described as "answers" as every time the Paladins attempted to cut into the lead, Bailey seemingly providing the answer each time. The Bentonville, AR., native recorded his 10th-straight double-figure scoring game of the season, including his third-straight. The former Division II standout at Northeastern State in Oklahoma finished the game connecting on 7-of-10 shots from the field and an impressive 5-of-7 shots from long range. He also added six rebounds and an assist in the win.
Furman had a pair of players end up in double figures, with Charles Johnston coming off the bench to score 14 points, while guard Nick Anderson finished with 12. PJay Smith Jr. was held to just seven points. Cooper Bowser and Garrett Hien just missed double figures scoring eight points apiece. Johnston connected on 5-of-10 shots from the field and was 4-for-8 from three-point land in the loss. He also led the 'Dins with seven rebounds.
Wofford finished the night shooting 47.1% (32-of-68) from the field and blistered the nets for a 40.6% (13-of-32) from three-point land and finished 57.1% (4-of-7) from the line. Furman came into the game ranking third nationally in three-point field goal percentage defense, holding foes to just 27.2% from long range. In two league losses this season, the Paladins have seen both UNCG and Wofford shoot a combined 25-of-55 from three-point land, which converts to a 45.4% clip.
Combined in those two games, the Paladins have been outscored 65-51 from long range. A stat that is as rare as 19-point home losses to conference foes for Furman under Richey.
Furman meanwhile, finished the game with its third-straight game shooting less than 40% from the field in a game, as the Paladins connected on just 33.3% (23-of-69) from the field and only 23.5% (8-of-24) from long-range. The Paladins knocked down 61.5% (8-of-13) from the free throw line.
Other than rebounding, points in the paint and outscoring Furman from long-range, the Terriers also claimed advantages in total assists (15-12), second-chance points (19-12), and fast break points (6-4). Furman finished with slight advantages in bench scoring (25-22) and points from turnovers (11-10).
How It Happened:
On the strength of a pair of three-pointers from Justin Bailey, the Terriers ran out to a 6-0 lead and led 13-4 at the first media timeout, leading the contest wire-to-wire en route to an 81-62 win over the Monday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Later in the opening half of play, the Terriers would put together what was a 27-8 run over the final nine minutes of the frame, as the Terriers took what was a 40-20 lead into the halftime locker room following a Charles Johnston three-pointer that rattled in at the buzzer. Wofford held Furman to just 2-of-17 shooting from three-point range in the opening half of play, as the Paladins connected on just 20% of its shots from the field in the opening half from the field.
Furman would play better offensively in the second half, but the Terriers continued to make timely shots, particularly on three-balls from Dillon Bailey, who seemingly had dagger answer threes every time the Paladins attempted to make a run in the second half.
Furman scored 42 second-half points, out-scoring the Terriers by one, however, the Terriers continued their strong shooting to finish off the lopsided with, 81-62, at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
It marked Wofford's first-ever win over the Paladins in Furman's downtown venue, and first win downtown against the 'Dins since claiming a 68-63 win as an NCAA Division II program at the Memorial Auditorium during the 1993-94 season. The Terriers came close to getting wins at 'The Well' in 2020 before Mike Bothwell hit a late shot to help the Paladins to a 67-66 win, while also narrowly falling to the 'Dins at 'The Well', 70-69, in 2022.
Both teams return to action on Wednesday night with crucial matchups ahead, with Wofford heading to the Scenic City to face off against Chattanooga for a 7 p.m. EST contest against the Mocs in a game that will be televised by ESPN2. Furman will host East Tennessee State Wednesday evening in a 7 p.m. EST contest at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Postgame Press Conference:
Players Charles Johnston and Ben VanderWal
Head Coach Bob Richey
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