GREENVILLE, S.C. – Moussa Diagne scored a game-high 19 points to pace five double figure Furman scorers and lead the Paladins to a 71-51 Southern Conference victory over Elon Monday night at Timmons Arena.
Diagne converted 8-of-13 field goals and all three free throw attempts for his 19 points to help Furman (11-8, 4-3 SoCon South) win for the 11th time in its last 12 home games. Tony Carter added 15 points, Gerad Punch a career-high 12 points, and George Brozos chipped in 10 points along with Eric Webb, who matched a career high with 10 assists.
Brian Waters topped Elon (2-18, 0-7 SoCon North) with 10 points as the Phoenix fell for the 13th consecutive time. Chris Chalko and Ryan Jones added nine points each while Simon Harris recorded eight points and nine rebounds.
Furman shot 50.0 percent for the game, hitting on 29-of-58 attempts, including 10-of-27 three-pointers. Elon shot 41.7 percent (20-of-48) from the field, including 7-of-18 from beyond the arc, but the Phoenix committed 21 turnovers, 16 coming in the first half.
Both teams were whistled for only 11 total fouls. Neither team made the bonus in the contest, which featured only 11 total free throws and was played in just one hour and 27 minutes.
Elon took its only lead of the game when Harris opened the scoring with a dunk on the Phoenix second possession.
Later, with the scored tied 9-9, Furman fashioned a 17-5 run over a seven minute span to go ahead 26-14 on a Diagne three-point play with 4:42 to go.
The Paladins finished off the half with an 11-3 spurt highlighted by a Webb 3-pointer with 23 seconds to go to make it 37-17 at intermission.
A 7-0 run over the first two minutes of the second half extended Furman’s advantage to 27 points at 44-17.
Elon managed to cut the lead to 16 points at 48-32 after a 15-4 run which saw a three-pointer from Chalko, two from Waters, two layups from Jones and ended with a layup by Harris with 12:36 remaining. But Furman blunted any comeback attempt with a pair of baskets, including a layup by Gerad Punch and jumper by George Brozos.
Furman’s 25 assists marked a season high against NCAA Division I competition.
Furman returns to action on Saturday when it takes on Wofford in Spartanburg in a 7:00 p.m. game. Elon’s next opponent is Western Carolina this Saturday in Cullowhee, also at 7:00 p.m.
–ELON– Game Box Score