Greenville, S.C. – The Furman men's basketball team begins the 2025-26 regular season on Monday night when it faces defending Big South Conference champion High Point in one of the most anticipated mid-major matchups on opening night in the Field of 68 Tip-Off Marathon at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C.
 
The 6:30 p.m. clash is set to be streamed live on the Field of 68's YouTube page. Fans can also listen to Dan Scott and Tom Van Hoy call 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. 
 
The Paladins, picked to finish second in the Southern Conference in preseason voting by the league's 10 head coaches, return two starters and eight letterwinners from a 2024-25 squad that posted a 25-10 record, reached the finals of the SoCon Tournament and received an at-large bid to the NIT. Furman's 25 wins tied for the second most in school history while the NIT berth, the third for the program, marked its first at-large selection.
 
Coach Bob Richey, now in his ninth season as head coach at Furman, welcomes back preseason All-SoCon selections Cooper Bowser and Tom House, along with returning starter Ben Vander Wal. The 6-foot-11 Bowser totaled 8.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season while adding a team-high 57 blocked shots. House, a senior who joined the Paladins from Florida State prior to last season, contributed 7.1 points per game and shot 40.6% from behind the arc in 2024-25.
 
Furman unveiled its $40 million renovations to Timmons Arena last weekend when it hosted the 15^th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide in a sold-out exhibition matchup. The Tide prevailed, 96-71, but the Paladins showed positive signs in the preseason tune-up grabbing 19 offensive rebounds and placing four players in double figures. Bowser and fellow 6-foot-11 forward Charles Johnston led the way for the Paladins with 14 points apiece. House added 11 points and freshman point guard Alex Wilkins scored 10 before fouling out. Johnston posted a double-double by adding 12 rebounds and Bowser chipped in with seven boards and a team-best six assists.
 
Monday's season opener marks the fifth all-time meeting between the Paladins and Panthers with Furman holding a 3-1 series lead. High Point captured the victory in the most recent meeting on December 6, 2022, at Timmons Arena, 85-82.
 
The Panthers, coming off a 29-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance, are the preseason favorite in the Big South Conference and ranked eighth in CollegeInsider.com's preseason mid-major top 25. Furman is No. 14 in the preseason poll.
 
Following Monday's matchup in Rock Hill, Furman returns to Timmons Arena for its home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 7, when it entertains defending Sun Belt Conference champion Troy.
 
Click here to purchase tickets to 2025-26 Furman men's basketball.
 
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