GREENVILLE, S.C. – Anderson sophomore guard Myles Jenkins poured in a game-high 27 points, with junior guard Garrett Denbow adding 18, but the Anderson men's basketball team dropped a 106-79 decision to Furman, Monday night at Timmons Arena.
"We played our hearts out tonight," said Anderson head coach Jimmie Williams. "I love this team. The final score tonight does not tell the full picture. We ran out of gas late, but I love the way we competed. Furman basketball is and always will be a place of great significance to me and my family. We had four wonderful years in purple and white and I feel fully prepared for this program build here at AU because of my time with coach Richey and Furman. It seems like yesterday Jalen Slawson and Mike Bothwell were freshman out there, and look at them now. Sturdy grown men that play the game the right way and bless everyone they meet. Their growth fires me up to coach our young guys. It would have been easy for our team to show up timid and afraid playing against the best mid-major in the country. We didn't back down or let up. We will continue to grow. Merry Christmas to all the Anderson Trojans out there. Can't wait to get back in Abney second semester!"
In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, which was an exhibition for the Black and Gold, but a regular-season contest for Furman – the Paladins improved to 6-1 at home on the season and 9-4 overall with their third win in their last four decisions.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jenkins was 10-of-13 from the field on the night, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, and narrowly missed a double-double recording a game-high nine rebounds. The Lexington native also handed out three assists. Garrett Denbow was 7-of-17 from the field and grabbed five rebounds, with freshman guard Luke Denbow adding 13 points, while going 3-of-6 from long range.
Sophomore guard Jacksen Greco tallied nine points on 4-of-8 accuracy from the field and also dished out three assists. Senior guard Mason Carver notched seven points and five boards.
Sophomore guard JP Pegues paced five Paladins in double figures with 20 points, while fifth-year forward Jalen Slawson added 18 and junior guard Marcus Foster netted 17. Junior forward Garrett Hien scored 14 points and Ben VanderWal had 13.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Trojans battled Furman on even terms through the first half and turned a 12-6 deficit into their largest lead of the game, at 19-14, midway through the opening frame on a layup by Mack Burgett with 10:29 on the clock.
But the Paladins went on a 19-6 run over the next 5:40 to flip the advantage in their favor (33-25) with less than five minutes left before halftime. The Trojans trimmed the deficit to six on two occasions – the final time on a fast-break 3-pointer by Garrett Denbow at the 1:42 mark – before the Paladins took a double-digit, 46-36, halftime lead.
Furman then opened the second half with a 13-4 surge to build a 19-point advantage and the Trojans were unable to get closer than a dozen over the final 11 minutes.
STAT OF THE NIGHT
Furman was 20-of-34 (58.8%) from the field in the second half.
NOTABLES
• Furman was a consensus preseason pick to win the 2023 Southern Conference regular season title.
• Tonight's matchup marked AU's fifth overall exhibition contest against an NCAA D-I opponent and the second this season after squaring off against SoCon-member Samford in early November.
• AU was looking for its second exhibition win over an NCAA D-I opponent after surprising the College of Charleston, 65-49, at TD Arena on Dec. 13, 2012.
• The Paladins launched 44 3-pointers – 19 more than Anderson - and made 17 treys – seven more than the Trojans.
• AU outshot Furman from long range, 40%-39%.
• The Trojans out-rebounded Furman, 20-17, in the first half, but the Paladins edged the Trojans, 18-14, in the second frame.
• Furman converted 18 Trojan turnovers into 27 points.
UP NEXT
The Trojans will close out their nonconference slate by traveling to Southern Wesleyan on Friday, Dec. 30. Tip-off vs. the Warriors at Historic Tysinger Gym is slated for Noon.
