It’s a fitting opponent that will provide a stern test as Furman opens Southern Conference men’s basketball play on Wednesday at Timmons Arena.
The Paladins put a five-game winning streak on the line when they take on Mercer in a New Year’s Eve matinee that tips at noon.
The SoCon opener is to be streamed live on ESPN+, and Dan Scott and Tom Van Hoy call the action via radio on The Fan Upstate at 97.7 FM and 1330 AM in Greenville, 97.1 FM and 1490 AM in Spartanburg, and via the Audacy app.
The Paladins wrapped up their regular season non-conference schedule with a league-best 9-4 mark following an 84-76 win over Charleston Southern in their last outing on Dec. 21. Winner of eight of its last nine, Furman finished the contest on a 13-3 run to hold off the Buccaneers. Redshirt sophomore Asa Thomas led the way with a career-best 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists while freshman Alex Wilkins posted 24 points to improve the Paladins to 5-0 in the month of December.
Wilkins, who has started all 13 games at point guard, leads the Paladins, averaging 16.8 points and 4.8 assists per game. Thomas has added 13.5 points per contest and a SoCon-best .406 three-point percentage.
It’s the 42nd meeting of Furman and Mercer with the Paladins holding a 29-12 series advantage. Furman swept last season’s tanden versus the Bears and has won 20 of the last 22 meetings. Eddrin Bronson totaled 16 points in last season’s first meeting at Mercer and averaged 12.5 over two games against the Bears. Senior Tom House scored a career-high 26 points in the most recent game against Mercer, a 96-72 triumph at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, on Feb. 12, 2025.
The Bears enter league play at 8-5 following a 122-49 rout of Baptist (Fla.) on Sunday in Macon, Ga. Mercer’s list of non-conference includes triumphs over Lipscomb, Appalachian State, Eastern Kentucky, Elon and Georgia State. Guard Baraka Okojie, a Memphis transfer, leads the Bears, averaging 17.6 points per game.
In preseason coaches’ polling, Furman was picked second in the conference with 73 points and five first-place votes. The Bears received 30 votes, good for eighth. None of the SoCon’s 10 members has played a league game. Mercer, Wofford and East Tennessee State are all 8-5 overall, a game off the Paladins’ pace.
Lacrosse coach Gail Wallach announced the schedule for the upcoming campaign.
The Paladins, who will be competing in their 12th season, are to play 17 contests during the season, 10 at Paladin Stadium.
Furman won a school record 14 games in 2025 and claimed a share of the Big South regular -season championship in Wallach’s first season at the helm. The Paladins return 24 letter winners and seven starters including Big South Freshman of the Year and second-team All-Big South Lily Toole.
The Paladins open the season on Feb. 10 at Clemson. Furman then starts its home slate on Feb. 20, hosting Austin Peay.
Click here to view the schedule.
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