ASHEVILLE, N.C. — In an exhilarating matchup on Sunday, Furman edged out Chattanooga with an 80-77 victory in the overtime of the Southern Conference Tournament semifinals. Pjay Smith Jr. delivered an outstanding performance for the Paladins, contributing 25 points and securing eight rebounds.
Smith’s teammate, Nick Anderson, was crucial in overtime, adding five points to the scoreboard. He ended the game with 23 points, shooting 8 for 15 overall, including 4 for 8 from beyond the arc, and connected on 3 of 4 free throws. Garrett Hien supported the team effort by contributing 10 points, shooting 4 of 9 from the field and 2 for 5 from three-point land.
On the Chattanooga side, Honor Huff led with a stellar 28-point game. Bash Wieland contributed significantly as well, putting up 16 points, grabbing eight rebounds, and making two steals. Trey Bonham rounded off the notable performances with his 14 points and two steals. This defeat marked the end of a 10-game winning streak for Chattanooga.
During the first half, Furman found themselves trailing by a slim margin, 35-34, with Smith scoring 14 points early on. Anderson stepped up in the second half with 13 points, and it was Smith’s clutch jump shot with just 28 seconds remaining that pushed the game into overtime. In the extra period, Anderson showed his composure under pressure, contributing all five of Furman’s overtime points, including key free throws.
