Greenville, S.C. – Nick Anderson poured in a game-high 30 points and Garrett Hien added 13 points and a career-best 15 rebounds to lead Furman to an 84-75 overtime victory versus Western Carolina in Southern Conference men's basketball action Wednesday night at Davis Field House on the campus of Bob Jones University.
 
With Furman trailing by six points and less than two minutes remaining in regulation, Anderson drilled back-to-back triples to pull the Paladins even at 63-63. Bernard Pelote's driving layup put the Catamounts back on top before Hien hit 1-of-2 free throws with 25 second remaining to trim the margin to one. Furman fouled Ice Emery and the guard converted on his first free throw before missing the second. Anderson penetrated down the middle of the lane and scored with eight seconds left to tie the game and Western Carolina's last-second three missed as time expired sending the game to overtime.
 
Anderson drained 4-of-5 free throw attempts over Furman's first two possessions of the extra period to help the Paladins build a 70-66 lead and Tom House nailed a triple from the left wing to push the margin to 73-66 with 2:53 to play. Pelote got the Catamounts on the board with a pair of free throws, but Anderson answered with a jumper and drained two more free throws on Furman's next possession to up the lead to 77-68 and Western Carolina could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
 
Furman made a season-high 24 free throws on 35 attempts while shooting 41.3% from the field. Anderson, who scored 23 of his 30 points after halftime, went 10-for-20 from the floor and 6-of7 at the foul line. PJay Smith Jr. tallied while Hien posted 13.
 
Marcus Kell scored a career-high 29 for the Catamounts while Pelote posted 13 points and 3 rebounds. Western Carolina (6-16, 2-9 SoCon) shot just 33.3% from the field, including 10-for-38 from three-point range. The Catamounts managed a 48-47 edge on the glass, but Furman scored 13 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds.
 
The first half saw nine lead changes and several long runs. Furman opened a 15-8 lead before Western Carolina used a 14-0 run to take the lead. Furman scored 11 straight points to regain the advantage, but the Paladins did not make a basket in the final five minutes of the half as the Catamounts took a 33-31 lead into the locker room. Western Carolina extended its advantage to eight in the second half before the late rally gave the Paladins their 11^th consecutive win over the Catamounts in Greenville.
 
The Paladins (18-6, 6-5 SoCon) hit the road this weekend for a key SoCon matchup versus the Chattanooga Mocs. Tip-off on Saturday is set for 4:30 p.m. at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tenn., and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
 
NOTE: Furman's home contest versus UNC Greensboro, scheduled for Saturday, February 15, at Bob Secours Wellness Arena, has been moved to a noon tip-off.