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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Alex Wilkins didn’t just have the best night of his young career Sunday afternoon. He authored one of the most explosive scoring performances by a freshman in Furman history and delivered it when the Paladins needed it most.
Wilkins poured in a career-high 33 points and calmly closed the door at the free-throw line in the final seconds as Furman held off Chattanooga, 75–70, in a Southern Conference battle at Timmons Arena. The win marked Furman’s third straight and secured a regular-season home-and-home sweep of the Mocs.
Furman improved to 16–7 overall and 7–3 in league play, continuing to climb in a tightly packed SoCon race. Chattanooga fell to 9–14 overall and 3–7 in conference action but showed plenty of fight after digging a deep early hole.
A freshman performance for the record books
Wilkins was electric from the opening minutes, scoring at all three levels and never letting Chattanooga fully reset defensively. The freshman finished 10-of-16 from the field, knocked down 6-of-8 from three-point range and went 7-of-8 at the foul line, repeatedly answering every Chattanooga push.
His 33 points were the most by a Furman freshman since Jason Stewart scored 30 at Clemson in 1995 and ranked as the second-highest scoring game ever by a Paladin rookie, trailing only Jonathan Moore’s 34-point effort against Georgia in 1976.
More importantly, Wilkins delivered in the biggest moments. With Chattanooga trimming the margin to two possessions late, he connected on five free throws over the final 42 seconds, showing composure well beyond his experience level to seal the victory.
Furman blitzes early and sets the tone
Chattanooga struck first, but the opening basket proved to be the Mocs’ lone bright spot for several minutes. Furman responded with one of its most dominant stretches of the season, ripping off a 29–5 run that flipped the game on its head.
The Paladins overwhelmed Chattanooga with pace, ball movement and shot-making, building a 29–7 advantage on Eddrin Bronson’s free throws with 8:12 remaining in the first half. Furman pushed the lead as high as 36–12 and entered the locker room up 42–23 after shooting efficiently and dictating the tempo on both ends.
Furman finished the afternoon shooting 50 percent from the field, assisted on 18 of its 25 made baskets and controlled the interior, outscoring Chattanooga 30–26 in the paint.
Mocs rally, Furman responds
Chattanooga refused to fade quietly. Early in the second half, Teddy Washington Jr. ignited a 13–0 Mocs run, scoring 11 points during the burst to slice a 19-point deficit down to 49–43 with 13:24 remaining.
From there, the game settled into a tense rhythm. Furman maintained a six- to 10-point cushion for much of the second half, but Chattanooga lingered within striking distance behind balanced bench scoring and timely stops.
Jordan Frison’s jumper with under a minute to play trimmed Furman’s lead to 68–64, briefly injecting uncertainty into the arena. Each time the margin narrowed, however, Furman answered — most notably at the free-throw line.
Bronson calmly knocked down a pair of free throws in the closing seconds, and Wilkins handled the rest, ensuring Chattanooga never fully erased the deficit.
Supporting cast, bench impact
Bronson finished with nine points, while Cooper Bowser added nine in his first action since an injury sidelined him in December. Ben Vander Wal contributed seven points and seven rebounds, providing stability on the glass during Chattanooga’s second-half push.
Brennan Watkins led the Mocs with 19 points, while Washington added 16. Chattanooga shot 41 percent from the field and just 28 percent from beyond the arc but received 35 points from its bench to keep the game competitive down the stretch.
What it means
For Furman, the win reinforced its growing confidence and showcased its ability to respond after surrendering momentum — a critical trait as the conference schedule tightens. Wilkins’ breakout performance added another layer to an offense that has grown increasingly difficult to defend.
The Paladins will look to carry that momentum on the road Wednesday night at East Tennessee State before returning home for a nationally televised matchup against UNC Greensboro next Sunday on ESPN2.
Sunday’s result, however, belonged to a freshman who turned an afternoon game into a statement — one shot, one stop and one free throw at a time.
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