Rafferty, Lyons help Furman beat UNC Asheville 65-51
ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Matt Rafferty had 20 points, 11 rebounds and five assists and Jordan Lyons scored 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to help Furman beat UNC Asheville 65-51 on Sunday.
Furman (7-0) is off to the best start in program history, including wins over Loyola-Chicago -- a 2018 Final Four team -- and then-No. 8 Villanova. The Paladins have won 14 of their last 15 games dating to last season.
Lyons scored seven points and Rafferty added six during a 20-6 run over the final nine-plus minutes of the first half that gave Furman a 38-22 lead at the break. Coty Jude and Cress Worthy hit back-to-back 3s to open the second half and trim the deficit to 10 points but the Bulldogs got no closer. Lyons answered with a 3-pointer and a layup before Noah Gurley converted a 3-point play to make it 46-28 and a layup by Tre Clark pushed the lead to 20 with 13 minutes to go.
Tajion Jones led UNC Asheville (1-5) with 14 points and Worthy scored 10. The Bulldogs, who won 21 games before a first-round loss in the NIT last season, have lost five in a row following a season-opening win over NAIA St. Andrews.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Justin Porterfield
- Jeff Heater
- Tony Chiazza
2023-24 Southern Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Samford | 15-3 | - | 29-6 |
UNC Greensboro | 12-6 | 3 | 21-11 |
Chattanooga | 12-6 | 3 | 21-12 |
Western Carolina | 11-7 | 4 | 22-10 |
Wofford | 10-8 | 5 | 17-15 |
Furman | 10-8 | 5 | 17-16 |
East Tennessee State | 8-10 | 7 | 19-16 |
Mercer | 8-10 | 7 | 16-17 |
The Citadel | 3-15 | 12 | 11-21 |
VMI | 1-17 | 14 | 4-28 |
2023-24 Big South Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
High Point | 13-3 | - | 27-9 |
UNC Asheville | 12-4 | 1 | 22-12 |
Gardner-Webb | 11-5 | 2 | 17-16 |
Winthrop | 8-8 | 5 | 17-15 |
Longwood | 6-10 | 7 | 21-14 |
Presbyterian | 6-10 | 7 | 14-19 |
Charleston Southern | 6-10 | 7 | 10-20 |
Radford | 5-11 | 8 | 16-17 |
South Carolina Upstate | 5-11 | 8 | 10-20 |