FORT MYERS, Fla. — Pjay Smith Jr. played a pivotal role for Furman, scoring 18 points in their narrow 76-73 victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday evening.

With just 2:50 left on the clock, Garrett Hien sank a jumper that allowed Furman to take the lead at 70-69, a lead they would maintain until the final buzzer. Florida Gulf Coast’s Rahmir Barno made a layup with only 4 seconds remaining, closing the gap to 74-73 before Smith clinched the win by converting free throws.

In an effective performance, Smith recorded a field goal percentage of 50%, shooting 6 of 12 overall and excelling with 4 of 6 from three-point territory. Furman’s Nick Anderson contributed 10 points, although he struggled with his shooting, hitting just 3 of 12 attempts and going 2 for 10 from long range. Another strong performance came from Ben Vanderwal, who ended the night with 10 points, making 3 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 4 from the charity stripe, while also contributing three blocked shots.

On the other side, Florida Gulf Coast (3-6) was led in scoring by Zavian McLean, who tallied 19 points and made four steals. Jevin Muniz also contributed significantly with 16 points, while Dallion Johnson added 11 points to the Eagles’ efforts.

This match highlights the competitive spirit of both teams as Furman improves to a record of 8-1. The close finish showcased the intensity of the game and the skills of standout players on both rosters.