ETSU took charge of the Southern Conference race with a huge win over Furman Wednesday, followed by a close road victory over Samford Saturday.
The 75-66 victory over Furman Wednesday was in front of a record Freedom Hall crowd of 6,177.
The Bucs avenged an earlier season loss to Furman while also snapping the Paladins’ seven-game winning streak.
ETSU shot 48 percent from the field and had four players score in double figures. Isaiah Tisdale (Lexington, Kentucky) led the way wtih 15 points.
ESPN’s “College Basketball Live” provided more national exposure for the ETSU program, interviewing coach Steve Forbes following the Furman victory.
“We have to win every game at this level this late in the year to have a tournament-type profile,” Forbes said on “College Basketball Live.”
ESPN’s Joe Lunardi predicts ETSU has a shot at an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament, which would be a first for a Southern Conference team, even if the Bucs don’t win the conference tournament.
After Furman, ETSU traveled to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the Samford Bulldogs Saturday. Samford came in at 9-20 overall and 3-12 in the SoCon, but gave the Bucs a scare.
The game had 10 ties and 20 lead changes, with ETSU escaping with an 80-74 victory.
Four Bucs scored in double figures, led by senior guard Tray Boyd III (Memphis) with 18 points. Junior Bo Hodges (Nashville) had 15 points and senior center Lucas N’Guessan (De Lier, Netherlands) had a double-double with 15 points and a career-high 15 rebounds.
ETSU improved to 25-4 overall and 14-2 in the Southern Conference. The Bucs conclude the road portion of their schedule with a trip to Wofford Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 7 p.m. ETSU closes the regular season at home Saturday, Feb. 29, against Western Carolina at 4 p.m.
The Southern Conference Tournament is March 6-9 in Asheville, North Carolina.
