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ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Harrah’s Cherokee Center was electric from the opening tip, every seat packed and every fan on edge. The air buzzed with anticipation for what had been billed as the Wilkins vs. Booth duel, a clash of two of the Southern Conference’s premier scorers.
For 40 minutes, Furman’s Alex Wilkins and Samford’s Jadin Booth traded blows like heavyweight fighters, scoring from all over the floor and refusing to give an inch. The crowd rose with every long jumper, gasped at every contested layup, and collectively held its breath on every final possession.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, it was Furman 86, Samford 81 — a hard-fought victory for the Paladins that highlighted the drama, skill, and intensity of March basketball. Behind a late surge from Tom House, who came off the bench to ignite the offense, Furman overcame Booth’s 34-point onslaught and held off the Bulldogs’ final rally to advance to the semifinals.
Booth Sets the Early Pace
Booth came out firing, slicing through Furman’s defense and knocking down jumpers from all over the floor. The Bulldogs matched the Paladins bucket for bucket, and the first half was a seesaw affair. Every time Furman tried to pull away, Booth answered, finishing drives through contact and hitting deep jumpers that left the crowd gasping.
By halftime, Furman and Samford were tied 46–46, each team trading baskets, the air thick with tension. Wilkins kept pace with Booth, hitting key jumpers and attacking the rim, reminding everyone why this matchup was billed as a duel to watch.
House Sparks Furman’s Surge
The second half began with Furman shifting gears. Senior guard Tom House — coming off the bench — ignited a scoring burst, knocking down threes and slicing to the basket with confidence. His energy seemed to lift the entire Paladins squad.
Meanwhile, Wilkins continued to carry Furman, finishing through defenders and finding open teammates. Together, Wilkins and House orchestrated a 9–0 run midway through the second half, giving Furman a seven-point cushion and forcing Samford to scramble.
Booth responded in kind, refusing to let his team fall behind. He scored relentlessly, keeping the Bulldogs within a possession, but Furman’s defense tightened in the paint and the Paladins made critical stops on the perimeter.
Free Throws and Second-Chance Points Seal It
As the clock ticked under five minutes, Furman’s poise at the free-throw line proved decisive. The Paladins went 10-for-11 from the stripe down the stretch, with House calmly hitting all seven of his attempts. Offensive rebounds and smart ball movement kept the Bulldogs chasing and eventually running out of time.
Wilkins finished with 19 points, including several key baskets during Furman’s decisive run, while House tallied 20 points off the bench, proving that depth can be just as valuable as a star performance.
Booth Shines But Can’t Close the Gap
Booth finished with a game-high 34 points, including several long-range jumpers and drives through traffic, keeping the Bulldogs in contention throughout. Dylan Faulkner chipped in 12 points and nine rebounds, and the Norris twins — Cade and Keaton — each added 11 points.
Yet, despite Booth’s heroics, Furman outscored Samford in the paint 32–20 and converted second-chance points off 10 offensive rebounds, giving them the edge in the end.
Closing Moments
In the final minute, Samford had one last look to tie the game. Booth received the ball on the wing and launched a deep three, but it clanged off the rim. The Paladins secured the rebound, ran out the clock, and celebrated a hard-fought 86–81 victory.
The Wilkins vs. Booth duel lived up to the hype, but Furman’s teamwork, depth, and late-game composure ultimately proved decisive.
Key Performers
Furman
- Tom House — 20 points off the bench
- Alex Wilkins — 19 points
- Cooper Bowser — 14 points, six rebounds
Samford
- Jadin Booth — 34 points
- Dylan Faulkner — 12 points, nine rebounds
- Cade Norris — 11 points
- Keaton Norris — 11 points
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