Dec. 19, 2007

Logan, Utah - Furman faces two-time defending Big Sky Conference champion Northern Arizona in the opening game of the Gossner Foods Holiday Classic Thursday evening in Logan, Utah. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

Furman (0-8, 0-3 SoCon) is still searching for its first win after suffering its eighth setback of the season, a 75-63 Southern Conference loss on Saturday night at UNC Greensboro. The Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona enter the tournament at 6-4 after downing San Jose State this past weekend.

Freshman Noah States holds the hot hand for the Paladins having scored in double figures in three straight games since moving into the starting lineup on December 1, versus Elon. The 6-foot-8 forward tallied a career-high 16 points against UNCG after posting new career standards against both Elon and Mercer earlier in the month.

Thursday's game marks Furman's first meeting with Northern Arizona and the school's first trip to the state of Utah.

The Furman versus Northern Arizona tilt will be followed by host Utah State facing Utah Valley State at 10:05 p.m. ET. The winners of Thursday's games will battle each other at 10:05 p.m. on Friday with the losers set to play at 7:30 p.m.

Furman vs. Northern Arizona Game Notes