CLINTON, S.C. - A strong second half and Al'Lonzo Coleman's (Charlotte, N.C.) 17th career double-double helped the Presbyterian College men's basketball team to a memorable win over the Furman Paladins on Tuesday night, 75-71.
PC evens its record to 5-5 with the win, while Furman falls to 6-5.
The victory marks PC's first over the Paladins since February 6, 1989, after losing the last four meetings. Tuesday's contest was the first time Furman played on PC's campus since January 28, 1959.
PC fell behind at halftime, 37-33, but went 19-of-19 from the free throw line in the second half to help seal the win.
Coleman led all players with 24 points and 11 rebounds, both game-highs. Khalid Mutakabbir (Suwanee, Ga.) added 19 points while Eric Washington (Columbia, S.C.) picked up a game-high five assists and two steals.
Brandon Sebirumbi led Furman with 20 points on the night.
Both teams shot well from the floor, with PC hitting 23 of 49 for 46.9 percent and Furman converting 24 of 45 for 53.3 percent. The Blue Hose scored 40 points in the paint to Furman's 28 and turned the ball over only nine times while forcing 14 Paladin turnovers.
Trailing 37-33 at the half, the Blue Hose quickly tied the game and took a lead with a 10-3 run to start the period. Coleman extended the lead with four of his 14 second-half points to put PC up 47-42, but Furman closed the gap by scoring five straight with 13:52 remaining.
The two sides battled for an advantage until the Blue Hose broke a 52-52 deadlock with a 9-0 run midway through the half. Four different players scored during the run and the Blue Hose took advantage of Furman fouls with Mutakabbir and Jay Reynolds (Maryville, Tenn.) knocking down two free throws each.
Furman cut the PC lead to five points twice but the Blue Hose continued to convert at the line and a layup by Coleman pushed PC's lead to double-digits, 73-63, with 3:16 to go.
PC's advantage appeared safe, but Coleman fouled out with 2:19 left on the clock and three Furman free throws and a jumper pulled the Paladins within five. A Jordan Loyd three-pointer then cut PC's lead to two with 48 seconds remaining, but the Blue Hose would not be denied as a Furman turnover and foul sent Washington to the line with three seconds left. The freshman knocked down both shots to make it a two-possession game and PC emerged with the win, 75-71.
The Blue Hose held a slim lead after the first minute of the game but Furman went ahead a little over six minutes in. The Paladins built on their lead throughout the frame despite 12 first half points from Mutakabbir and 10 from Coleman. PC closed the frame by scoring five straight points to slim down a nine-point deficit and enter halftime down, 37-33.
The Blue Hose return Thursday to host Navy at 7 p.m.
