Jan. 24, 2005

Box Score

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Moussa Diagne scored a game high 19 points to pace five double figure scorers and lead Furman to a 71-51 Southern Conference victory over Elon Monday night at Timmons Arena.

Diagne, a sophomore forward from Thies, Senegal, converted 8-of-13 field goals and all three free throw attempts for his 19 points to help Furman (11-8, 4-3 SoCon South) win for the 11th time in its last 12 home games. Tony Carter added 15 points, Gerad Punch a career high 12 points, and George Brozos chipped 10 points along with Eric Webb, who matched a career high with 10 assists.

Brian Waters topped Elon (2-18, 0-7 SoCon North) with 10 points as the Phoenix fell for the 13th consecutive time.

"As a coach you always worry about coming out flat in a game like this, especially when you're coming off an emotional game like we had against Davidson on Saturday," said Furman head coach Larry Davis. "We put a lot into that game and didn't win, so today at shootaround I told our guys they were going to have to take a workman-like, blue collar attitude, and they did. It's good to get back into the win column."

Furman shot 50.0 percent for the game, hitting on 29-of-58 attempts, including 10-of-27 3-pointers. Elon shot 41.7 percent (20x48) from the field, including 7-of-18 from beyond the arc, but the Phoenix committed 21 turnovers.

Both teams were whistled for only 11 total fouls, including a school record low five infractions by Furman. Neither team made the bonus in the contest, which featured only 11 total free throws and was played in just one hour and 27 minutes.

Elon took its only lead of the game when Simon Harris opened the scoring with a dunk on the Phoenix second possession.

Later, with the scored tied 9-9, Furman fashioned a 17-5 run over a seven minute span to go ahead 26-14 on a Diagne three-point play with 4:42 to go.

The Paladins finished off the half with an 11-3 spurt highlighted by an Webb 3-pointer with 23 seconds to go to make it 37-17 at intermission.

A 7-0 run over the first two minutes of the second half extended Furman's advantage to 27 points at 44-17.

Elon managed to cut the lead to the lead to 16 points at 48-32 following a layup by Harris with 12:36 remaining, but Furman blunted any comeback attempt with a pair of baskets, including a layup by Gerad Punch and jumper by George Brozos.

Furman's 25 assists marked a season high against NCAA Division I competition.

Furman returns to action on Saturday when it takes on Wofford in Spartanburg in a 7:00 p.m. game. Elon's next opponent is Western Carolina this Saturday in Cullowhee, also at 7:00 p.m.