By MONTE DUTTON

Furman’s merry destruction of Columbia International was hardly a harbinger of glory to come.
It was, however, damned impressive.
Bob Richey, in his eighth season as men’s basketball coach, has never had a losing season at the Paladins’ helm. Last season, Furman was 17-16, and four of the team’s top five scorers left at season’s end. He has never faced a task of rebuilding so quickly.
The top returnee, PJay Smith, has been injured but is expected to return on Friday night in Nashville, Tenn., versus Belmont at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Without Smith, the Paladins slipped past the NAIA Rams, 104-46, on Monday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Belmont defeated Maryville (Tenn.), 93-70.
Better defense is a Paladin priority.
“It was a complete game,” said Richey after the opener. “We had almost 40 deflections, which was nice to see. I don’t care who you play.
“This team continues to show the desire to get stops, and that’s been refreshing. … It appears to be a team that wants to pride itself in defense.”

Offense was smooth, too, hence the 104 points.
After taking its lumps in an exhibition game versus 11th-ranked Auburn, 83-62, Furman made ample use of 13 players, 12 of whom scored. The leading scorer, Tom House, scored 21 points in 17 minutes. Tommy Humphries scored 15 in 19.
The Paladins shot .635 from the field and .619 in three-pointers. They outrebounded Columbia International, 43-27, forced 17 turnovers while committing 10, and collected 11 steals and 18 assists.

Columbia International, which has one international player, shot .286 from the field and .095 from deep.
The triumph was comprehensive but not effortless. Furman, which has seven players 6-7 and taller, was poised and exuberant.
House, who transferred in from Florida State, considered Furman out of Centerville (Ohio) High School.
“Sometimes in transferring, it’s not easy to jell with the system, with the team and with the culture,” he said. “The older guys have made sure it happened.”

“We all connected on the court because we do off the court,” said Tyrese Hughey, who scored 11 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. “We always hang out together. That’s a big focus.”
Furman begins postseason play on Friday night in the opening round of the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship when it takes on Mercer in a rematch of last Saturday’s regular-season finale and last season’s SoCon finals.

UNC Greensboro hosts the tournament.
Kickoff between the fourth-seeded Paladins (7-3-4) and fifth-seeded Bears (6-4-7) is 7 p.m. The winner of Friday’s match advances to face No. 1 seed UNCG in the semifinal round on Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Bears hold a 12-6-6 lead in the series between the SoCon rivals and claimed a 2-0 victory over Furman in last year’s SoCon championship.
On Saturday, Furman senior Ivan Agyaawah scored in the 85th minute to help the Paladins salvage a 1-1 draw versus Mercer in the annual Quinn Game for Down Syndrome awareness at Stone Stadium.

Senior Christian Kraus leads the Paladins with five goals this season while Agyaakwah, junior Lloyd Wamu Snell, and freshman Wilfer Bustamante have netted four apiece. Sophomore defender Slade Starnes has a team-high four assists in 11 matches.

Both the Furman cross country teams are ranked 22nd nationally and fourth in the NCAA Southeast Region, according to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings.
Both Paladin teams claimed their 12th straight Southern Conference titles Saturday in Greenville.
The Paladins compete at the NCAA Southeast Region Championship on Nov. 15 in Rock Hill.
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