0
0
GREENVILLE, S.C. — For 20 minutes Thursday night, the script didn’t favor Furman. The shots weren’t falling. UNC Greensboro was dictating tempo. And the Paladins walked into the locker room staring at a 10-point halftime deficit with a conference heavyweight standing confidently on the other side.
What followed was the kind of second half that changes seasons.
Fueled by relentless defense, fearless shot-making and a crowd that sensed the shift before the scoreboard did, Furman stormed back to defeat UNC Greensboro 69–56 at Timmons Arena, delivering one of its most complete performances of the season and snapping the Spartans’ seven-game winning streak in Southern Conference play.
UNCG Controls the First Half
UNC Greensboro arrived in Greenville playing like a team at the top of the league, and it showed early. The Spartans established control with disciplined offense and physical defense, forcing Furman into tough looks and capitalizing in transition. Makiah Asidanya set the tone from the opening quarter, attacking gaps and knocking down perimeter shots, while Jaila Lee provided steady production inside.
UNCG’s advantage grew in the second quarter when the Spartans rattled off a 10–0 run that quieted the building and stretched the lead to double digits. Kristina Rakotobe added a key three during the surge, and Tasia Johnson followed with a triple of her own as UNCG carried a 35–25 lead into halftime. Furman, meanwhile, struggled to find rhythm and faced a familiar question: how would it respond when momentum tilted away?
A Third-Quarter Spark Ignites the Building
The answer came quickly — and loudly.
Furman opened the third quarter with renewed urgency, pressuring the ball, pushing pace and attacking with purpose. Senior guard Chantelle Stuart took command, scoring at all three levels and refusing to let the Paladins drift any further. Each basket chipped away at UNCG’s cushion, and with every stop, the energy inside Timmons Arena rose another notch.
Then the floodgates opened.
Behind Stuart and sharpshooter Alyssa Ervin, Furman unleashed a stunning 17–0 run that flipped the game on its head. Ervin drilled four three-pointers during the surge, stretching the defense and forcing the Spartans into hurried decisions. Stuart poured in basket after basket, ultimately scoring 19 of her game-high 26 points after halftime as Furman surged in front and seized control.
Closing Time: Defense and Composure
Once Furman grabbed the lead, it never let go.
The Paladins carried their momentum into the fourth quarter, where defense became the defining force. UNCG found fewer clean looks, and every possession turned into a grind. Furman continued to share the ball, space the floor and close defensive possessions with rebounds, outscoring the Spartans 23–12 in the final period to put the game away.
Ervin finished with 24 points, complementing Stuart’s career night, while Furman shot efficiently from beyond the arc and converted defensive pressure into timely scoring. UNCG received strong performances from Lee, who finished with 17 points, and Asidanya, who added 15 points and seven rebounds, but the Spartans could not stem Furman’s second-half avalanche.
A Win That Carries Weight
The final buzzer signaled more than a comeback. It marked a statement.
Furman improved to 10–8 overall and 2–1 in Southern Conference play, reasserting itself as a team capable of matching — and breaking — the league’s best when it commits on both ends of the floor. The Paladins didn’t rely on one moment or one player; they relied on belief, discipline and a willingness to respond when the game demanded it.
On a night that began with questions, Furman provided answers — loudly, confidently and together. And as the crowd filtered out into the Greenville night, one thing was clear: this wasn’t just a win. It was a reminder of what this team can become when momentum, execution and heart collide.
About the Author
