Coming off of their first loss of the season at #1 Kansas on Nov. 30, the Furman Paladin men’s basketball team faced the Princeton Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 7. The Paladins secured a 37-29 point lead over the Tigers at the half, but a second-half Princeton comeback closed the gap. Despite Princeton’s intensity on the offense, Furman ultimately triumphed. According to ESPN analytics, approximately 3,200 fans filled the seats at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
The Dins shot 43.1% from the field and made 29.4% of their three-point shots. Key players for Furman featured senior guard PJay Smith Jr. as the leading scorer with 23 points and four steals. Graduate forward Garrett Hien added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Furman’s defense hounded Princeton throughout the game, particularly in the first half. The Dins racked up six blocks (compared to Princeton’s zero) and seven steals, helping keep the Tigers at bay.
With this win, Furman’s overall record this season improves to 9-1. The Paladins will continue their non-conference slate for the 2024-25 season with three more games. They will initially return to Bon Secours Wellness Arena to play South Carolina State on Saturday, Dec. 14, and conclude their non-conference schedule at Harvard University on Saturday, Dec. 21. Both games will be streamed on ESPN+.