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HOMEWOOD, Ala. (Jan. 14, 2026) — The noise was loud, the margin thin and the moment unforgiving — exactly the kind of Southern Conference night that exposes teams still learning how to win on the road. Furman, by now, knows the drill.
Behind 28 points from freshman guard Alex Wilkins and another controlled, physical effort on the glass, the Paladins handled a late push and left the Pete Hanna Center with a 77–73 victory over Samford on Wednesday night. Furman moved to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in league play, continuing to stack results in a conference race where road wins carry real weight.
Wilkins has been steadily earning trust since conference play began, and Wednesday marked another step forward. Playing 34 minutes in a game that never loosened, he scored 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting, dictated pace late, and made the right read possession after possession. He added four rebounds, five assists and a steal as Furman’s offense flowed through him when execution mattered most.
Samford Stays in It Behind Faulkner, Shaver
Samford pushed back the way good teams at home usually do. Senior guard Dylan Faulkner set the tone with physical play and relentless effort, finishing with 19 points and 11 rebounds. His work inside forced Furman to stay engaged defensively and prevented any early separation.
Will Shaver complemented Faulkner with 15 points, consistently finding space on the perimeter, while Jadin Booth added 12 points and provided energy during Samford’s most effective stretches. Keaton Norris, Cade Norris and Isaiah Campbell-Finch helped keep the offense organized and applied pressure defensively, particularly during the second-half push.
Still, Furman rarely looked rattled. When Samford trimmed the margin, the Paladins answered, either with a stop, a rebound, or a timely basket that stalled momentum before it could fully turn.
First Half: Familiar SoCon Grind
The opening 20 minutes unfolded like a familiar Southern Conference script — physical possessions, few clean looks, and little margin for error. Furman and Samford traded stretches of control without either side managing more than a brief edge.
Wilkins attacked early, forcing Samford to defend laterally, while Furman’s frontcourt quietly established rebounding position. Each Furman run was met with a response, as Faulkner worked inside and Shaver capitalized on open looks.
By halftime, the teams were level at 40–40. Furman had shot efficiently but had not yet separated, while Samford fed off the home crowd. The game sat exactly where many SoCon games do — waiting for execution, not emotion, to decide it.
Second Half: Furman’s Formula Holds
The second half followed a familiar Furman blueprint. Defensive possessions tightened, rebounds became non-negotiable, and offensive patience replaced urgency. Charles Johnston and Mason Smith anchored the interior, limiting second chances and forcing Samford to earn everything it got.
Johnston finished with nine points and 14 rebounds, while Smith added six points and 11 boards, many of them in traffic. Their presence allowed Furman’s guards to stay aggressive without sacrificing defensive balance.
When Samford made its final pushes, Wilkins responded calmly. Whether it was a pull-up jumper, a drive that collapsed the defense, or a kick-out to an open teammate, Furman consistently found quality looks. Ben Vander Wal, Eddrin Bronson and Cole Bowser each scored eight points, providing the spacing and support Furman needed to close the game.
Key Stats and Game Flow
Furman shot 43.3 percent from the field and controlled the glass with a 43–32 rebounding advantage, a margin that quietly shaped the night. Samford shot 43.9 percent overall but managed just 25 percent from three-point range, an area where Furman’s defensive discipline showed.
The Bulldogs went 18-for-23 at the free-throw line, but Furman countered by limiting live-ball mistakes and finishing possessions. Five Paladins scored six points or more, a balance that continues to define this group through conference play.
What It Means Going Forward
Road wins in this league tend to age well, and this one fits that mold. Furman did not need to play its cleanest game to win, but it stayed connected, rebounded with purpose and executed late — traits that travel.
For a team blending experience with young contributors in prominent roles, nights like Wednesday serve as confirmation more than revelation. Furman left Homewood with another conference win, another road result, and another reminder that its formula holds up when the margin disappears.
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