The ETSU men’s basketball team went on the road and narrowly fell to Furman, 73-70, on Jan. 15.
The game was a tight matchup, which featured 12 ties and 13 lead changes, keeping fans on edge until the final buzzer. The back and forth battle was a thriller all the way down to the wire.
Trailing by eight with just under 40 seconds of regulation left, the Bucs mounted a fierce comeback, chopping the Furman lead to a single point with 4.9 seconds left. However, Furman sealed the victory with clutch free throws after Karon Boyd’s foul, and Quimari Peterson’s failed halfcourt shot at the buzzer.
ETSU and Furman were nearly identical statistically, with both teams sinking 18 free throws. The Bucs shot 42% from the field and 32% from beyond the arc, while Furman countered at 44% from the field and 33% from three. The Bucs were strong on the glass, out rebounding the Paladins 36-33 and converting 15 offensive boards into 23 second-chance points.
Peterson balled out with a game-high 21 points, while Jaden Seymour added 18 points and eight rebounds before fouling out.
Boyd grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds, and John Buggs III racked up 13 points, including a crucial four-point play in the final seconds.
The game remained tight throughout. ETSU led 36-35 at halftime but faced scoring droughts in the second half, allowing Furman to capture a lead. The Paladins’ late 7-0 run proved decisive despite the Bucs’ late push.
The Bucs rebounded to get a big 75-60 road win over SoCon leader Samford Jan. 18 in Birmingham, Alabama.
ETSU is 11-8 overall and 4-2 in conference play.
For more information on Buccaneer men’s basketball, visit ETSUBucs.com.
