Greenville, S.C. – A 15-game home slate, including matchups against 2018 NCAA Final Four participant Loyola Chicago, perennial Big South Conference contender Winthrop and Southern Conference rivals UNC Greensboro, ETSU and Wofford, highlights Furman's 2019-20 men's basketball schedule, which was announced on Thursday by third-year Paladin head coach Bob Richey.
 
Furman, coming off of a record-setting 2018-19 season that saw the Paladins upset Loyola Chicago, take down defending national champion Villanova, post a school-record 25 wins and earn a berth to the NIT, will also be challenged on the road in 2019-20. The Paladins tipoff the season on November 5 at defending Big South champion Gardner-Webb before entertaining Loyola Chicago in the home opener at Timmons Arena on November 8, a rematch of last season's thriller in Chicago, Ill., when Furman's Clay Mounce took a Matt Rafferty pass and finished a thunderous dunk with one second remaining to lift the Paladins past the Ramblers, 60-58, at Gentile Arena.
 
After a visit to Charleston Southern and a home game versus Southern Wesleyan, Furman will take part in the mainland portion of the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis when it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., on November 19 to face the Alabama Crimson Tide. The Paladins will continue play in the Battle 4 Atlantis in Elon, N.C., November 26-27 with games against the Elon Phoenix and UT Arlington Mavericks.
 
Furman opens December with trips to American Athletic Conference member South Florida (Dec. 2) and SEC foe Auburn (Dec. 5) before hosting USC Upstate (Dec. 11), North Greenville (Dec. 11) and Winthrop (Dec. 14) to close out the non-conference schedule.
 
The SoCon campaign begins with a visit to Mercer on December 20. January and February include a total of nine home games with the Paladins playing host to ETSU, UNC Greensboro, Western Carolina, Samford, VMI, Mercer, Chattanooga, Wofford and The Citadel.
 
Once again in 2020, the SoCon Men's Basketball Championship will be held March 6-9 at the U.S. Cellular Center in Asheville, N.C.
 
The Paladins return four starters, led by All-SoCon guard Jordan Lyons. The senior from Peachtree City, Ga., poured in 16.2 points per game and connected on 105 three-point baskets as a junior in 2018-19. Furman also returns junior point guard Alex Hunter (9.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg), junior forward Clay Mounce (10.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg) and 2019 SoCon All-Freshman choice Noah Gurley (8.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg).
 
Season tickets for 2019-20 Furman Basketball are on sale now at FurmanPaladins.com and start at $110. An "All-Hoops Ticket", which includes a lower lever reserved seat for all men's and women's home games, is also available for $195. Secure your seats now as the Paladins battle for a Southern Conference championship and a return to the postseason.