Greenville, S.C. – Senior Alex Hunter poured in a game-high 19 points and Furman limited UNCG to just 29% shooting from the field to top the Spartans, 68-49, in Southern Conference men's basketball action presented by Pepsi on Monday evening at Timmons Arena.
 
The victory tightened the race atop the SoCon as Furman improved to 12-6 overall and 6-3 in the league. UNCG dropped to 13-6 overall and 8-3 in the SoCon.
 
After trailing by three points in the opening minutes, Furman used a 22-4 run and limited the Spartans to only two baskets from the 15:48 mark of the first half until the four-minute mark to build a 30-13 advantage. UNCG trimmed Furman's 36-24 halftime lead down to 38-30 on a dunk by Isaiah Miller with 17:14 remaining, but the Paladins answered with a 16-4 spurt to put the game away. Jalen Slawson drained a three to start the run and Hunter, who connected on 8-of-15 shots from the floor, scored seven straight points to cap the run on a layup with 8:51 to build a 54-34 cushion.
 
Slawson joined Hunter in double figures with 14 points, six boards three assists and a career-best five blocked shots, while Mike Bothwell added 12 points. Making his first career start, Garrett Hien totaled seven points and a career-high eight rebounds.
 
Furman shot 47.4% from the field and converted on 7-of-10 trips to the foul line. The Paladins fashioned a 46-31 advantage on the glass to win the battle of second chance points, 11-6, and outscored UNCG in the paint, 34-30. Noah Gurley added 11 rebounds and four assists.
 
UNCG connected on just 18-of-62 shots, including 2-of-18 behind the arc. Miller paced the Spartans with 14 points, while Keyshaun Langley contributed 11.
 
Furman plays the second half of its home-and-home with UNCG when it travels to the Greensboro Coliseum for a 5 p.m. tip-off on Wednesday. The game will air live on ESPNU and fans can listen to the "Voice of the Paladins", Dan Scott, deliver the play-by-play call on ESPN Upstate at 97.7 FM/1330 AM in Greenville, 97.1 FM/ 950 AM in Spartanburg, and thru the Radio.com app.