Greenville, S.C. – The Furman men's basketball team is back in action at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Saturday when it hosts instate foe South Carolina State. Saturday's game, sponsored by BMW, is set to tip-off at 12:00 p.m. 
 
Tickets to Saturday's Faculty and Staff Appreciation Game are available for purchase by clicking here. Faculty and staff will take part in a free throw knockout competition at halftime with a chance to a win the Century BMW Faculty and Staff Knockout Championship Trophy. Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be on hand to take pictures with fans.
 
Furman enters the game at 9-1 on the season and ranked No. 8 in the latest College Insider Mid-Major Top 25 Poll. The Paladins scored their seventh consecutive win at the Well and remaining unbeaten at home this season with a 69-63 victory over Ivy League favorite Princeton last weekend behind a game-high 23 points, eight rebounds, and four steals from senior PJay Smith Jr. Princeton was held to 38.9% shooting by a Furman squad that currently ranks 22^nd nationally in scoring defense (62.8 ppg) and second in three-point field goal percentage defense (23.1%).
 
Saturday's game marks the 21^st meeting between Furman and South Carolina State with the Paladins holding a 15-5 series lead. Furman has won each of the last four meetings, including an 86-78 decision last season at Timmons Arena when Smith poured in a team-high 20 points. The Paladins are 12-3 all-time versus the Bulldogs in Greenville and claimed a 77-58 victory in the only previous meeting between the schools at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on November 27, 1999, in the Southern Conference Hoops Holiday Tournament.
 
South Carolina State enters Saturday at 5-6 following its 82-63 victory over Charleston Southern on Monday night in Orangeburg, S.C. The Bulldog victory came on the heels of close losses to No. 22 Xavier (71-68) and defending SoCon champion Samford (88-81).
 
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ and fans can listen to all the action on The Fan Upstate at 97.7 FM and 1330 AM in Greenville, 97.1 FM and 1490 AM in Spartanburg, and via the Audacy app. Links for the broadcast, live audio, and live statistics are available at FurmanPaladins.com.