- Matchup: Furman Paladins vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers
- Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
- Venue: Freedom Hall, Johnson City, TN
- Broadcast: ESPN+
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The East Tennessee State Buccaneers (16-7) will look to secure a victory against the Furman Paladins (16-7) at Freedom Hall on Wednesday.
In their most recent game, the Furman Paladins faced off against Chattanooga, emerging victorious with a score of 75-70. Furman displayed impressive shooting, finishing with a 50.0% field goal rate (25 of 50) and making 9 of 20 three-point attempts. From the free throw line, the Paladins converted 16 of 21 attempts, good for a 76.2% success rate. On the boards, they grabbed 32 rebounds, including 5 offensive ones, and registered 18 assists while forcing 11 turnovers and achieving 5 steals. Defensively, Furman allowed Chattanooga to shoot 41.0% (25 of 61). Chattanooga managed 9 assists and 7 steals, while securing 29 rebounds (14 offensive, 15 defensive) without any blocks. They also hit 12 of 16 free throws, finishing at 75.0%, and made 8 of 29 shots from beyond the arc. The Paladins committed 16 personal fouls, while Chattanooga had 21.
Key contributor Alex Wilkins excelled in this matchup, scoring 33 points on 10 of 16 shooting. He played 34 minutes, collected 3 rebounds, and achieved a shooting efficiency of 62.5%, complemented by 5 assists.
Furman enters this contest with a season record of 16-7. They average 77.6 points per game (157th nationally) while shooting 47.8% from the field. From long distance, the Paladins shoot 32.5% (211 of 650) and connect on 66.9% of their free throws. As a team, they average 38.8 rebounds per game and have recorded 384 assists this season, ranking 35th in NCAA basketball for assists. They lose possession through 12.3 turnovers per game and average 14.6 personal fouls.
Defensively, the Paladins force 10.2 turnovers per game while drawing 17.0 personal fouls. They limit opponents to 31.3% three-point shooting and rank 82nd in NCAA for points allowed per game at 70.2. Furman’s opponents shoot 42.0% (586 of 1,395), and they allow an average of 32.7 rebounds per game as a team. They rank 142nd in Division 1 for assists allowed, surrendering 288 this season.
In their last outing, the East Tennessee State Buccaneers secured an 86-72 victory over Wofford. They registered 18 defensive rebounds and 7 offensive rebounds for a match total of 25. The Buccaneers committed 4 turnovers while recording 8 steals. Wofford was called for 19 fouls, giving East Tennessee State 28 free throw attempts, out of which they converted 26 for a rate of 92.9%. From beyond the arc, East Tennessee State hit 6 of 15 attempts (40.0%). At the end of the game, the Buccaneers shot 27 of 56 from the field, achieving a shooting percentage of 48.2%. They allowed Wofford to make 26 of 54 attempts from the field for a shooting percentage of 48.1%. The Buccaneers finished with a 36.8% success rate from three-point territory (7 of 19) and made 13 of 16 free throws (81.3%). They conceded a total of 29 rebounds to Wofford, with 8 being offensive.
Cam Morris III was a standout for the Buccaneers, hitting 8 of 12 shots for a 66.7% accuracy, and grabbing 7 rebounds. He tallied 22 points in 33 minutes on the court, alongside 2 assists.
Season records for East Tennessee State stand at 16-7. The Buccaneers average 16.0 personal fouls per game and convert 76.5% of their free throw attempts. They distribute 14.5 assists per game (152nd in NCAA) and average 10.0 turnovers per contest. Totaling 1,808 points this year, East Tennessee State scores 78.6 points per game while collecting 34.4 rebounds per game. On offense, they shoot 49.0% from the floor, ranking 29th in the nation.
Defensively, East Tennessee State permits 32.6% shooting from three-point range (199 of 611) and opponents convert 71.7% from the free throw line. They average 12.9 assists allowed and 31.8 rebounds allowed per game, ranking 137th and 46th in Division 1, respectively. The Buccaneers rank 41st nationally in points allowed per game with an average of 67.6, while forcing 13.5 turnovers per game and allowing opponents to shoot 41.5% from the floor (61st in D-1).
Which team will claim victory in tonight’s NCAA showdown?
Prediction: Take Furman
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