Furman Seeks to Halt Skid in Road Test at UNC Greensboro
GREENVILLE, S.C., January 23, 2026 – The Furman Paladins men’s basketball team, reeling from back-to-back Southern Conference losses, hits the road to face the UNC Greensboro Spartans this afternoon. After a promising 4-1 start in league play, Furman (13-7, 4-3 SoCon) has dropped to fourth place and aims to regain momentum against a Spartans squad with an identical conference record.
Recent Struggles for the Paladins
Furman’s momentum hit a wall last week with consecutive defeats. On January 17, they fell 74-70 at home to Wofford after surrendering a 13-point second-half lead. The frustration compounded on Wednesday, January 21, when The Citadel erased a 19-point deficit to stun the Paladins 77-75 in overtime in Charleston. The losses highlighted issues with closing out games and offensive consistency down the stretch.
Key Facts & Team Stats
| Category | Furman Paladins |
|---|---|
| Overall / SoCon Record | 13-7, 4-3 (4th Place) |
| Current Streak | Lost 2 |
| Points Per Game | 77.1 (176th nationally) |
| Points Allowed Per Game | 70.3 (94th nationally) |
| Leading Scorer | Alex Wilkins (17.5 PPG, 5.1 APG) |
| Leading Rebounder | Charles Johnston (9.7 RPG) |
| NET Ranking | ~187 |
Today’s Matchup: At UNC Greensboro
The Paladins travel to Bodford Arena in Greensboro, North Carolina, for a 3:00 PM ET tip-off against the UNC Greensboro Spartans (8-12, 4-3 SoCon). The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Spartans are coming off an 85-78 victory over VMI, powered by a 22-point, 11-rebound performance from forward Justin Neely, who averages a double-double (16.4 PPG, 11.9 RPG). According to early betting lines, Furman is favored by approximately 5.5 points, with an over/under set at 150.5 points.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Furman’s last game?
Furman suffered a devastating 77-75 overtime loss at The Citadel on January 21. The Paladins led by 19 points in the second half but collapsed offensively down the stretch. Sola Adebisi led The Citadel with 22 points, while Charles Johnston (15 points, 12 rebounds) and Alex Wilkins (15 points, 9 assists) paced Furman.
Who are Furman’s key players to watch?
Guard Alex Wilkins is the team’s engine, leading in scoring and assists. Forward Charles Johnston is a consistent double-double threat on the glass. Wing Asa Thomas is the team’s top three-point shooter, averaging over three makes per game.
What is at stake in this game for Furman?
With a loss, Furman would fall to 4-4 in the SoCon and risk falling further behind league leaders East Tennessee State (6-1) and Mercer (5-2). A win is crucial to stop the negative momentum, stay in the top half of the conference standings, and keep pace for a favorable seed in the upcoming SoCon tournament.