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Furman Pulls Away From USC Aiken, 79-54
Dec. 5, 2006
Greenville, S.C. - Furman held USC Aiken without a field goal over the final 9:44 and finished the game on a 22-3 run to down the Pacers 79-54 in men's basketball action Tuesday evening at Timmons Arena.
The Paladins placed four players in double figures led by Eric Webb's season-high 24 points. The Grand Rapids, Minn., native converted 5-of-8 three-point attempts while adding seven rebounds and a game-high five assists. Webb's five treys gave him 231 for his career and moved him into 10th on the Southern Conference's career three-pointers made ledger.
After USCA's Cory Broyles trimmed the Paladin lead to 57-51 with less than 10 minutes remaining in the game, Webb scored five straight points to trigger the deciding run. The Paladins held the Pacers to 0-for-8 from the floor the rest of the way to improve to 5-3 on the season and allowed just one USC Aiken point in the final 7:27.
Furman led by as many as 14 points in the first half before taking a 38-29 lead into the locker room. Moussa Diagne registered three straight baskets early in the second half to key a 12-4 run as the Paladins extended the advantage to 50-33 with 15:47 left.
USC Aiken answered with a 13-2 spurt to cut the lead to six with just over 13 minutes remaining before being limited to just two baskets the rest of the way.
Furman shot 55.4% (31-56) from the field and connected on 10-of-20 attempts beyond the arc. The Paladins second best effort from the floor this season helped offset a 7-for-21 performance at the foul line. Furman held a 39-27 edge in rebounds and committed just 15 turnovers.
Gerad Punch scored 12 points, Robby Bostain netted 11 and Diagne added 10 to join Webb in double digits. Punch matched a career-high with nine rebounds to go with four assists.
Darren Pore and Jordan Cunningham each tallied nine points to lead the Pacers. USC Aiken (5-5) shot 41.7% (20-48) from the field and 8-of-14 at the charity stripe.
Furman opens Southern Conference play on Saturday when it hosts preseason North Division favorite UNC Greensboro at Timmons Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. The Pacers take an 11-day break before hosting Tusculum on December 16.
