VMI and Paladins on Senior Day
Opening Ceremonies
Senior Day festivities are underway for Furman University and their men’s basketball team. We celebrate Hien, Anderson, Hughey and PJ Smith. Hien was vital in plays late to upset Virginia in March Madness just a few years ago. These guys have all been fantastic to the program and have laid a foundation that should last for years to come.
First Half Highlights
Furman opens up the scoring with a layup to go up 2-0, but VMI answers quickly with a three and we are well underway from Bons Secour Wellness Arena. Furman jumps up 11-4 lead, but on a fastbreak Anderson throws it through the hands of Hien who was streaking. House enters the game and makes an amazing baseline pass to PJ Smith who buries the 3 putting Furman up 14-6 at the first media timeout. Hien and House come out with back-to-back three pointers to stretch the lead to 12. 20-8, but now 20-11 after a VMI three pointer. Furman has went a little cold as VMI battles back to 24-16 but House finally gets a bucket and the foul. He missed the free throw and both teams are in a cold spell. Furman gets sloppy on a fastbreak again, VMI capitalizes to bring the lead down to 6. VMI has a nice inbounds play to cut the lead down to 2. 26-24 with 4:18 to go in the first half. Furman is shooting 33.3% from three-point range and 45.8% from the field, yet VMI has battled back to tie the game 26 all. Two minutes to go and Furman maintains a one-point lead after a free throw and missed shot by VMI. Bronson gets an inside out pass from VanderWal and nails the three to get the lead back up to four. Bob Richey tells the refs to get this game under control as one of his players was poked in the eye with no foul called. VMI has been a bit handsy and throwing elbows, but Furman escapes with a 30-27 lead and we are at halftime from The Well.
Second Half Highlights
Furman and VMI continue to be very physical, but the Paladins hit an amazing outlet pass to House for a dunk. Score is 33-31 with 17:17 to go in the second half. VanderWal under the basket comes through strong with a layup and this game is ramping up the chaos. At the first media timeout, Furman maintains a two-point lead 37-35, but these players are playing chippy and rough. This game has started to lack scoring on both sides currently as its become a foul fest. Nick Anderson makes both free throws to bring the Furman lead back to six. Nick Anderson goes on a run with his Paladins, to bring the lead up to ten and the fans are going wild! VanderWal hits another layup after a VMI made shot to bring the score to 49-42 with 9:50 to go in the second half. TJ Johnson from VMI ups his point total to 15 with a nice drive and banked in shot to bring the score to 52-44. In 20 minutes of real time, Nick Anderson has gone from scoring three points to 18 as Furman leads 59-47 with 5:28 to go in the second half. Garret Hien fouled out of the game with his last two fouls in less than fifteen seconds as Furman leads 62-52 with 3:51 to go. VMI goes on a small run to cut the lead to 6 with 1:59 to go as Furman leads 64-58. Nick Anderson with an acrobatic layup after VMI tries to trap PJ Smith to bring the lead to 5 for Furman with 46.8 seconds to go. Furman beats the full court press with good passing, leading to a Cooper dunk with 41.3 seconds to go and the lead is 68-61 Dins. VMI hits a three to cut the lead to four with 18.1 seconds to go. VMI starts the fouling with Furman maintaining a 3-point lead before Anderson shoots his free throws. Nick Anderson makes the first and second bringing the lead to 5 but TJ Johnson hits a 3 pointer. Furman up two with 2.7 to go, shooting free throws. PJ Smith ices the game with 2 free throws and that’s a wrap from the Well as Furman beats VMI 75-71.
Final shoutout to all the seniors on dance, cheerleading, basketball and the team managers. Fantastic work and congratulations. Yall be blessed, not stressed and make sure to click Subscribe on the Furman Joust and Southern Fried Sports.
