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
2024-25 Southern Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samford | 5-1 | - | 15-4 |
| UNC Greensboro | 5-2 | 0.5 | 12-8 |
| East Tennessee State | 5-2 | 0.5 | 12-8 |
| Wofford | 5-2 | 0.5 | 11-9 |
| Chattanooga | 4-2 | 1 | 12-7 |
| Furman | 3-4 | 2.5 | 15-5 |
| Mercer | 3-4 | 2.5 | 10-10 |
| VMI | 3-4 | 2.5 | 9-11 |
| Western Carolina | 1-6 | 4.5 | 5-13 |
| The Citadel | 0-7 | 5.5 | 5-13 |
2024-25 Big South Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNC Asheville | 5-1 | - | 14-6 |
| High Point | 5-2 | 0.5 | 17-5 |
| Longwood | 4-2 | 1 | 15-6 |
| Radford | 3-3 | 2 | 13-8 |
| Winthrop | 3-3 | 2 | 13-8 |
| Gardner-Webb | 3-4 | 2.5 | 8-12 |
| Presbyterian | 2-4 | 3 | 9-12 |
| Charleston Southern | 2-4 | 3 | 6-15 |
| South Carolina Upstate | 1-5 | 4 | 5-16 |
Men's College Basketball News
