Greenville Suffers Tough Loss as Jacksonville Falls to Furman
Greenville, S.C. – The Jacksonville men’s basketball team faced a disappointing defeat on the road, losing to the Furman Paladins with a final score of 78-69 in a game that showcased contrasting performances in each half.
On Monday evening, junior guard Robert McCray V led the Dolphins with a game-high 26 points, while junior forward Stephon Payne III made his mark on the boards, grabbing a tied-for-career-high 13 rebounds. Not to be overlooked, guard Zach Bell contributed 11 points of his own in the effort.
First Half: Competitive Start
The Dolphins began the game similarly to their prior matchup with Florida, battling closely with the homestanding Paladins. The teams fought through to a 23-23 tie before Jacksonville embarked on a pivotal 6-0 run with just over six minutes left in the first half. McCray capped the run with a bucket to give JU a 29-23 advantage.
Entering the halftime break, Jacksonville maintained a narrow lead at 36-33. Most of their success came in the paint, where they scored 18 of their first-half points. Both McCray and Bell were instrumental, notching nine points each before intermission, while Simon Wheeler dished out four assists.
Second Half: A Turn of Events
The second half proved to be a different story for the Dolphins. After gaining a slight lead at 41-40, Jacksonville experienced a rough scoring drought that allowed Furman to take control with a 10-0 run. The Paladins swiftly built momentum, pushing their lead to 76-64 as the game neared its conclusion.
Despite the dwindling clock, Jacksonville mounted a late effort, narrowing the gap to 76-69 with a layup from McCray, but time was not on their side. The Dolphins mustered nine points off turnovers in the second half, capitalizing on eight miscues by Furman. However, Jacksonville’s shooting waned, finishing the game at just 32% from the field, a stark contrast to their more effective 42% in the first half.
Coach’s Reflection
Postgame, head coach Jordan Mincy addressed the challenges faced by his young squad. “We had a scoring drought and they did a great job,” he said. “Furman is traditionally a really good team. We have to do a better job executing and not letting our emotions be dictated by whether we are making shots or not. If we had maintained our early game productivity, we could have secured a win.” He acknowledged the experience as a valuable teaching moment for his players.
Next Matchup
Looking ahead, Jacksonville will regroup as they prepare to face South Carolina State University on November 14, 2024, with the game set to tip-off at 7:00 PM and broadcast on ESPN+.
