GREENVILLE, S.C. --- The Furman University men's basketball team used a 25-2 first half run to pace the Paladins to a 102-74 win over visiting Tusculum University Friday afternoon at Timmons Arena.
Furman, who is ranked No. 12 in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, improves to 4-2 on the season, while Friday's contest was an exhibition game for the Pioneers. Tusculum (2-0) returns to action on Saturday when they host Lees-McRae College at Pioneer Arena for a 4 p.m. tip-off.
Furman's Marcus Foster scored 15 of his 22 points in the opening period, while Jalen Slawson posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Slawson also dished out five assists and shot 10-of-13 from floor. Mike Bothwell added 18 points, while Tyrese Hughey finished with 15 markers in the win.
Tusculum's Kobe Funderburk tallied 14 points thanks for four 3-pointers, while Inady Legiste finished with 13 points and two blocked shots. KJ Crump shot 4-of-5 from three-point territory for his 12 points and Connor Jordan scored 10 points.
Tusculum jumped out to a 15-11 lead early in the contest following a three-pointer by Connor Jordan.
Seven straight points by the Paladins including a Jalen Lawson layup moved Furman out to an 18-15 lead. Jordan trimmed the deficit to one with his layup at the 10:19 mark before the Paladins scored 14 unanswered to take a 32-17 lead with 6:16 left in the half.
Furman closed out the opening period with a 25-10 spurt to take a 57-27 lead into the locker room.
The Paladins finished the game shooting 39-of-65 (60%) from the field including 11-of-19 from beyond the three-point arch (58%). TU ended the contest shooting 39 percent (30-of-66) from the field including 12-of-31 (39%) from long range. Furman out-rebounded the Pioneers by a 37-25 margin and were credited with 24 assists on their 39 made field goals.