Finally Furman: Paladins make first NCAA Tournament since 1980, win Southern Conference final
It wasn't going to be easy for Furman to break its 43-year drought for the NCAA Tournament. Heartbreak and frustration have followed the Paladins recently when it comes to the postseason.
And Monday night, they watched a 17-point first-half lead evaporate against seventh-seeded Chattanooga in the Southern Conference finale, but the league's regular-season champions finally were not denied. Furman pulled away late for an 88-79 victory at the Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville.
Jalen Slawson had 20 points, and JP Pegues had 17 for Furman (27-7), but Marcus Foster's two late 3-pointers finally put the Mocs (18-17) away in the last three minutes. Mike Bothwell had 16 points and Alex Williams also had 12.
Chattanooga had stormed through three games behind the return of 7-footer Jake Stephens, who missed the last 11 games of the regular season. Stephens had 67 points in three games and shot 7-for-16 from 3-point range in that time. Furman, meanwhile, fought back to knock off Western Carolina in OT on Sunday.
Furman swept the season series, winning by eight at Chattanooga with Stephens playing, and by 21 at home on Feb. 1 without him.
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This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Furman basketball ends 43-year NCAA drought, wins Southern Conference
