W Carolina defeats Furman 77-80

Thrilling Upset: W Carolina Outlasts Furman in 3-Point Shooting Showdown

In a dramatic turn of events, the visiting W Carolina (AWAY) Pirates edged out the home-standing Furman Paladins (HOME) 80-77 in a thrilling conference matchup at Timmons Arena on Sunday night. The game's outcome was far from certain until the final buzzer sounded, as both teams engaged in a back-and-forth battle that saw neither lead more than three points.

At halftime, W Carolina held a slim 30-38 edge, but the Paladins responded with a strong second half, outscoring their visitors 45-42. Furman's Alex Wilkins (24 points) and Ben Vander Wal (11 points, 8 rebounds) led the charge, while Tidjiane Dioumassi (12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists) paced W Carolina with his all-around performance.

In a game marked by 3-point shooting, both teams struggled to find their mark. Furman connected on just 34% of its attempts from beyond the arc, but Wilkins' hot hand kept them in the game. Meanwhile, W Carolina hit at a 50% clip from deep and finished with a true shooting percentage of 53.3%.

The Pirates' Julien Soumaoro (16 points) and Dioumassi also played key roles in the team's victory, as they combined for 28 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists.

In the end, W Carolina's superior free-throw shooting (63% vs. Furman's 47%) proved to be the difference-maker. The Pirates converted 10-of-16 from the line, while the Paladins shot just 8-of-17.

The win marks a significant statement for W Carolina in conference play and sets up an intriguing matchup next week against another ranked opponent. For Furman, the loss serves as a reminder of how quickly momentum can shift in college basketball.

Game Stats:

* Field Goals: W Carolina (44.0%), Furman (45.0%)

* 3-Point FG: W Carolina (50.0%), Furman (34.0%)

* Free Throws: W Carolina (63.0%), Furman (47.0%)

* Rebounds: Furman (35), W Carolina (48)

* Assists: Furman (18), W Carolina (13)

The Pirates' 80 points marked a season-high for the team, while Furman's 77 points were just two shy of their previous best this season.