Furman beats top-seeded ETSU to win SoCon title

Furman defeated top-seeded East Tennessee State 76-61 to capture the Southern Conference tournament title, and Cooper Bowser had 21 points and 11 rebounds. The win secured an NCAA tournament bid for Furman.

Furman defeated top-seeded East Tennessee State 76-61 in the Southern Conference tournament final in Asheville. The victory gave No. 6 seed Furman its eighth SoCon title and its first since 2023. Cooper Bowser led the Paladins with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Furman shot 51% as a team. The game followed Furman's semifinal rally, in which Alex Wilkins scored a career-high 34. Game details: - Final score: Furman 76, ETSU 61. - Cooper Bowser had 21 points and 11 rebounds and was 9-of-12 from the field. - Tom House scored 13 points off the bench and Alex Wilkins added 12 in the final. - Furman led 42-35 at halftime and extended the margin late with a Wilkins steal and fast-break dunk at 2:11 remaining. - ETSU’s Brian Taylor II finished with 16 points (14 in the second half); Blake Barkley had 14 and Jaylen Smith had 10. - ETSU struggled from long range (3-of-16) and finished 10-of-18 at the free-throw line; the Buccaneers were seeking their first NCAA bid since 2020. Summary: Furman’s win secures the Southern Conference tournament championship and an automatic NCAA tournament berth. Undetermined at this time.