Greenville, S.C. - Southern Wesleyan fell to the Furman Paladins in an 89-49 exhibition final on Wednesday evening.

The Warriors shot 32.1% from the field in the loss to the Paladins. Arusha Hunter led the team with 13 points and was followed by Solomon Smith with nine points and Hunter Davis with eight points. Ta'Jay Dunlap contributed three of team's 13 assists and three Warriors had blocks. As a team, Southern Wesleyan posted seven steals and 29 rebounds. Smith, Davis, Jalen Lowery and Tranard Ferrell each had four rebounds to led the team.

Game Vitals

Final: Furman 89, Southern Wesleyan 49

How It Happened

The Paladins jumped out quickly to take a 7-0 lead over the Warriors before 3-pointers from Ta'Jay Dunlap and Demarcus Addie pulled them within one. Neither team would score for the next few minutes as turnovers and missed shots plagued each team. Southern Wesleyan notched up the score at 10-10 with a layup from Addie and they would trade baskets with Furman before the Paladins regained a 15-14 lead. Arusha Hunter's 3-point basket would tie it again at 17-17 as the Warriors fought to stay in the game. The Paladins held onto a slight lead before taking the biggest lead of the game going into halftime, Furman winning 37-26. 

Southern Wesleyan would not make their first basket until the 15 minute mark after the Paladins had extended their lead into a sixteen point differential. Hunter would make those first baskets for the Warriors that would kickstart their second half performance. Solomon Smith delivered a block to Furman's Joe Anderson that would lead to a 4-0 scoring run from Smith. The Warriors made sporadic shots throughout the remainder of the contest, but it would not be enough as the Paladins went on to win the game, 89-49.

What's Next

Southern Wesleyan will take a break until the new year when they travel to play the Lander Bearcats on January 2. Conference Carolinas play opens at Lees-McRae on January 13 at 7 p.m.