Asheville, N.C. – Furman shot 52% in the second half and converted on 24-of-30 trips to the foul line to capture its first Southern Conference Tournament title and NCAA berth in 43 years with an 88-79 victory over Chattanooga on Monday night at the Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville.
 
The Paladins, who last claimed the conference championship and earned a berth to the tournament in 1980, will find out their first-round opponent and destination on the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Selection Show, which airs on CBS at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 12. 
 
Fifth-year senior Jalen Slawson scored a team-high 20 points and sophomore JP Pegues captured SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors after tallying 17. 
 
After Furman led by 12 with 7:25 to play, Chattanooga put together a late 8-0 spurt to pull within 69-65 on AJ Caldwell's layup with 5:02 left.  Slawson hit a pair of free throws and the Mocs' Jake Stephens went 1-for-2 at the line before Mike Bothwell drew a two-shot foul heading into the media timeout with 3:22 remaining.
 
Following the timeout, Bothwell drained both free throws and Marcus Foster cashed in a Chattanooga turnover by burying a three to put the Paladins ahead 76-66. The Mocs went 3-for-4 at the line over their next two possessions, but Slawson escaped the press and finished with a slam and Foster connected on a another three-pointer from the corner with 1:19 left to put Furman up 81-69 and seal the victory.
 
Bothwell added 16 points and sophomore Alex Williams contributed 12 points and six boards off the bench. Foster finished with eight points and a team-best nine rebounds.
 
Furman raced out to a 30-11 lead before the Mocs reeled off a 15-0 run to get back into the game. Trailing 38-33 at the half, Chattanooga clawed back to within a point early in the second half before Slawson netted seven straight points, highlighted by a three-pointer with 12:25 remaining, to push the margin to eight at 54-46. The Mocs got no closer than four points the rest of the way.
 
Pegues was joined on the all-tournament squad by Bothwell and Slawson, who registered their school-record 115^th victory. The win also marked Furman's single-season record 27^th triumph of the year.
 
All-Tournament Team
First team
Mike Bothwell, Furman
JP Pegues, Furman (MOP)
Jalen Slawson, Furman
Jake Stephens, Chattanooga
Vonterius Woolbright, Western Carolina
 
Second team
Jermaine Marshall, Samford
Jamal Johnson, Chattanooga
Tyzhaun Claude, Western Carolina
B.J. Mack, Wofford
Jackson Paveletzke, Wofford
 
Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team)
Blake Harris, Furman
 
2023 Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship
Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville, Asheville, N.C.
 
Friday, March 3 (ESPN+)
Game 1 - (8) Mercer 66, (9) The Citadel 41
Game 2 - (7) Chattanooga 92, (10) VMI 72
 
Saturday, March 4 (ESPN+/Nexstar)
Game 3 - (1) Furman 73, (8) Mercer 58
Game 4 - (4) Western Carolina 69,  (5) ETSU 57
Game 5 - (7) Chattanooga 85, (2) Samford 82
Game 6 - (6) Wofford 67, (3) UNCG 66
 
Sunday, March 5 (ESPNU/ESPNEWS)
Game 7 – (1) Furman 83, (4) Western Carolina 80
Game 8 – (7) Chattanooga 74, (6) Wofford 62 
 
Monday, March 6 (ESPN)
(1) Furman 88, (7) Chattanooga 79