Feb. 19, 2007

Box Score

Greenville, S.C. - A career-high 34 points by Moussa Diagne on senior night was not enough as the Furman men's basketball team dropped an 80-77 double-overtime contest to the College of Charleston at the Bi-Lo Center in Southern Conference action on Monday night. Furman dropped to 14-13 overall, 8-8 in the SoCon, while CofC improved to 19-9, 12-4.

With the score knotted at 73 in the second overtime, Josh Jackson dumped in two of his 11 points to give the visiting Cougars a two-point advantage with 2:52 remaining. Despite three offensive rebounds on the next possession, Furman was unable to capitalize and a Jackson free throw pushed the CofC advantage to three.

The Paladins managed to get back within a point twice before the end of the game, but two free throws by Dontaye Draper gave Charleston a three-point lead, 80-77, with 14 ticks on the clock. Long-range attempts by Gerad Punch and Tony Anderson went awry as the Cougars came away with the victory.

Diagne's 34 points were the most since Mel Daniel racked up 35 for the Paladins in 1981. The senior from Senegal drained 14-of-24 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. Senior Gerad Punch grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds and Alex Opacic added 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting.

Charleston had five players in double figures, led by Draper's 18 tallies. Jermaine Johnson posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 boards. David Lawrence added 12 points and Tony White and Jackson added 11.

Furman held a slim 44-43 advantage on the glass, but Charleston took advantage of its 16 offensive rebounds. The Cougars scored 24 second-chance points compared to only nine by the Paladins.

CofC led by as many as seven points in the opening half, before a Diagne jumper keyed a 12-2 Furman run to close out the half and give the Paladins a 27-24 lead heading into the locker room.

Furman stretched its advantage to as many as nine points in the second half, but the Cougars hung around and tied the game at 59 all with a pair of Lawrence free throws. White drained a three on the next CofC possession to give the visitors their first lead of the half, 62-59. Diagne answered with a trey of his own and two free throws by each team had the game tied at 64 at the end of regulation.

The Paladins go on the road for the final two regular-season contests, beginning with a trip to Davidson on Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. Charleston hosts The Citadel on the Thursday at the same time.