Greenville, S.C. – Furman tips off the 2026-27 men's basketball regular season on Monday night when it takes on defending SWAC champion Bethune-Cookman in The Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center in Rock Hill, S.C.
The final of eight games in the opening day marathon, Furman and Bethune-Cookman are schedule for an 8 p.m. tip-off and the game will be streamed live on The Field of 68 Network's YouTube and Twitter/X pages. 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 live audio and live statistics are available at FurmanPaladins.com. Tickets for Monday's regular season opener are all general admission seating and can be purchased by
clicking here.
The Paladins are in their 10
th year under the direction of head coach
Bob Richey and coming off a 2025-26 campaign highlighted by a 22-13 record and the school's second Southern Conference Tournament crown and NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years. Furman welcomes the return of fifth-year players
Charles Johnston and
Tom House, who combined to log 52 starts last season. Key contributors
Cole Bowser,
Abijah Franklin,
Davis Molnar,
Collin O'Neal, and
Mason Smith also return to the Furman lineup in 2026-27.
Depth is expected to be a strength of the Paladins, who were tabbed to finish first in the league in polling of the SoCon's 11 head coaches this season, with the addition of a heralded group of newcomers. Forward
Marcus Kell, who joined Johnston in earning preseason All-SoCon accolades, was added to the Paladin roster in the offseason after averaging 13.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game last season at league rival Western Carolina. The Paladins' talented list of transfer additions also includes guard
Jaxson Bell (12.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg at Army), former University of South Carolina and Christ Church Episcopal School product
Jordan Butler, and Boston College point guard
Luka Toews. Looking to earn their first collegiate minutes will be talented freshmen
Cameron Elwer (2026 OHSBCA Mr. Ohio),
Nikos Koulisianis (Czech U-18 National Team), and
Jerrin Samuel (2026 GHSA AAAAA Player of the Year).
Monday's game marks the fourth all-time meeting between Furman and Bethune-Cookman with the Paladins holding a 2-1 series edge. The schools have not met since Furman claimed a 64-49 victory at Timmons Arena on December 29, 2003. The Wildcats went 17-15 overall last season and claimed the SWAC title with a 14-4 record before suffering a loss to No. 8 seed Prairie View A&M in the SWAC Tournament. Bethune-Cookman is coached by former NBA all-star Reggie Theus.
Following Monday's opener, Furman will return to Greenville to host the Bob Jones Bruins in the home opener on Wednesday, November 4, at 7:30 p.m. inside Timmons Arena.
Single game tickets and season tickets are on sale now.
Minuteman Press is the Official Sponsor of Furman Athletics press releases.
