Pioneers to face SoCon favorite Furman in exhibition next week

Pioneers to face SoCon favorite Furman in exhibition next week

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's basketball team will take on Furman University next Wednesday in an exhibition game beginning at 4 p.m. from Timmons Arena on the Greenville, South Carolina campus.

This will be the first time Tusculum and Furman have squared off on the basketball hardwood, but it won't be the Pioneers first trip to Timmons Arena. TU made its inaugural trip to the Furman campus last spring for the semifinal round of the Pilot/Flying J South Atlantic Conference Basketball Championship, which has been held at Timmons Arena for the last several years.

"This is a great opportunity for our guys to take on an outstanding team like the Furman Paladins," said TU head coach JT Burton. "Coach Bob Richey runs a first-class program and we are excited for the challenge ahead next week."

Furman is the preseason favorite to win the Southern Conference according the league's media poll and were picked second by the SoCon basketball coaches.  Furman returns four starters from last year's club that posted a 25-7 record and finished second in the conference. Over the past three years, the Paladins have amassed a 73-25 mark including back-to-back 25-win campaigns.

The Paladins have a Tusculum tie as Preseason All-SoCon forward Clay Mounce is the brother of former Tusculum center Chase Mounce (2013-2017). Chase earned All-South Atlantic Conference second team honors in 2014-15 and is 15th on TU's all-time scoring list with 1,273 points.

Tusculum will open its season this Saturday when they host Wingate University for a South Atlantic Conference contest at 4 p.m. from Pioneer Arena. TU will also welcome the UVA Wise Cavaliers on Tuesday for a 7:30 p.m. SAC battle.