Birmingham, Ala. – Freshman Alex Wilkins poured in a career-high 28 points and Furman held Samford without a field goal over the final 4:32 to down the Bulldogs, 77-73, Wednesday night at the Pete Hanna Center.
 
The victory improved the Paladins to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in Southern Conference play while the Bulldogs slid to 9-9 overall and 2-3 in the league. Furman improved o 4-1 in true road games this season and claimed its 78^th road victory in the last 11 seasons.
 
Tied at 40-40 at the half, Furman used a 10-2 start to the second half to grab the lead and never trailed the rest of the night. The Bulldogs clawed to within one point at 67-66 with 4:33 to go before Charles Johnston drained a triple. Cole Bowser hit his first two collegiate free throw attempts with 18 seconds left to give the Paladins a 76-71 lead. Keaton Norris answered with two free throws for the Bulldogs, but Wilkins connected on 1-of-2 at the line with 1.8 seconds on the clock to seal the victory.
 
Wilkins finished 11-for-20 from the field to score a career-best 28 points and dished out five assists. Johnston added nine points and 14 rebounds while Ben Vander Wal, Eddrin Bronson, Bowser, and Abijah Franklin added eight points apiece. Mason Smith pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds.
 
Furman shot 43.3% and converted on 11-of-16 free throw attempts. The Paladins were outscored 38-30 in the paint but managed a 43-32 advantage on the glass and outscored Samford 9-2 on points off turnovers after the Bulldogs scored the first 14 points off Paladin miscues.
 
Dylan Faulkner led Samford with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Will Shaver scored 15 points off the bench. Jadin Booth added 12 points and Isaiah Campbell-Finch totaled 10 points.
 
Furman is back at home on Saturday when it hosts SoCon rival Wofford in front of a sellout crowd at Timmons Arena. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m., following Furman women's basketball's 2 p.m. contest against Western Carolina. The showdown between the Paladins and Terriers will be televised on Nexstar Media affiliates throughout the southeast and available on ESPN+.
 
Minuteman Press is the Official Sponsor of Furman Athletics press releases.