By MONTE DUTTON

Alas, old Timmons, we knew her well.

This is no Hamlet. Timmons Arena is just going away as the home of the Furman Paladins for a season.

After Furman (16-14, 10-7 SoCon) closes its men’s basketball regular season against Mercer (14-16, 7-10) on Saturday at 2 p.m. – and the women follow with their finale versus East Tennessee State at 6 – Timmons Arena is undergoing massive, as in $40 million, renovation.

By the culture of arenas, it’s going to be like Timmons Arena visiting a spa. It will return in 2025-26 looking youthful, streamlined and attractive.

Her departure is to be acclaimed. The game will air on Nexstar affiliates (one being CW-62) throughout the region as well as ESPN+, with Pete Yanity and Dave Friedman calling the action.

Now to the matter at hand.

Mercer snapped an 18-game losing streak to the Paladins with a 78-69 verdict at Hawkins Arena in Macon, Ga., on Feb. 7. Jalyn McCreary paced the Bears with 28 points and eight rebounds. Marcus Foster, who eclipsed 1,000 career points in the first meeting between the teams, led the Paladins with 19 points and nine boards.

Both teams lost on Wednesday, the Paladins falling, 85-77, at Western Carolina, and the Bears falling at Chattanooga, 84-75.

“We’ve got to end this (regular) well,” said Furman head coach Bob Richey on postgame radio Wednesday. “It’s a big game against a team that’s beaten us, and we’ve got to be ready. I’ve always been a big believer that the last day is important.

“It’s important for the momentum you finish with. You’re sitting on that last performance for a whole week. We’ve got to turn the page quickly and get ready for a really good Mercer team.”

When the Southern Conference Tournament commences late next week in Asheville, N.C., Mercer, which has beaten the Paladins, Samford and UNC Greensboro on its home floor in the season’s latter half, is going to be a dangerous longshot.

Saturday marks the 39^th meeting between the Paladins and Bears with Furman holding a 27-11 series lead. The Paladins have won each of the last eight encounters in Greenville, including a 70-67 victory in last season’s regular-season home finale.

J.P. Pegues (17.9 points per game) has moved into the Paladins’ scoring lead by virtue of his 35-point performance in a losing cause in Cullowhee. Foster (17.4), Alex Williams (14.2) and PJay Smith (9.9). Foster is easily the leader on the glass with a 7.5 rebounding average.

For all Pegues’s virtuosity, the Paladins are better he doesn’t have to shoulder the load. He is, however, a valuable asset when others are frustrated.

The Ingles SoCon Basketball Championship is March 7-11: only women on Thursday, then two men’s play-ins on Friday. Furman has already secured a first-round bye and faces either Western Carolina or Wofford in the quarterfinal round on Saturday, March 9, at 8:30 p.m.

“There are so many unknowns in this tournament,” Richey said. “Who’s going to find a way to win three games in three days?

Fans can listen to the action on The Fan Upstate at 97.7 FM and 1330 AM in Greenville, on 97.1 FM and 1490 AM in Spartanburg, or via the Audacy app.

I’d like to capture the entire tournament. I’m willing to commute and probably will, but I could use some help.

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