Paladins control UTC men from the start

Furman shot a sizzling 54 percent from the field and never trailed in topping the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball team 73-58 Thursday night at Timmons Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.

The Mocs’ threegame Southern Conference win streak came to a halt, while the Paladins (16-4, 5-3) moved into a tie with UTC (10-11, 5-3) for fourth place by snapping a two-game league losing streak.

Furman was led by guard Jordan Lyons’ 18 points, which including a 4-of-8 showing from 3-point range. Lyons was part of a starting five that shot 26-for-47 from the field, with forward Matt Rafferty adding 15 points, guard Alex Hunter 12 and forward Noah Gurley 10.

In contrast, UTC’s starting five was 14-for35 from the field. Season leading scorers Kevin Easley, Ramon Vila and Donovann Toatley combined for just 16 points. Jerry Johnson Jr. was the only Moc in double figures with 13 points.

Furman hit four of its first five shots, including a pair of 3-pointers from Hunter and Gurley, while building a quick 10-4 lead. The Mocs had turnovers on five possessions in the first eight minutes, the last leading to a Rafferty basket and a 17-9 lead.

The Paladins led by 12 points in the first half before the Mocs ended it with consecutive makes by Thomas Smallwood and Maurice Commander to cut the halftime margin to 31-23. The closest the Mocs got in the second half was seven when Smallwood hit a 3-pointer and was fouled, the four-point play coming with 12:47 remaining.

However, Lyons hit back-to-back 3-pointers as the Paladins stretched the lead back out, and it remained nine to 15 the rest of the way.

The Mocs return to action Saturday at 7 p.m. at SoCon-leading Wofford.