Furman vs ETSU - MBB Championship Full Game Highlights

Box Score

Asheville, NC

Men’s Basketball

Furman Paladins

Furman Paladins Men's Basketball team

ETSU Buccaneers

ETSU Buccaneers Men's Basketball team

SoCon

2026-03-09 | Men's Basketball | Furman Paladins vs ETSU Buccaneers | #2808763 | COMPLETE

Men's Semifinals - Furman Press Conference

Men's Semifinals - UNCG Press Conference

Men's Semifinals - ETSU Postgame Presser

Men's Semifinals - WCU Postgame Presser

ETSU Men's Basketball

East Tennessee State University

SoCon First Team All-Tournament - Blake Barkley

#GoBucs | #OurHouseOurTime https://t.co/HectPoQtyR

Tweet 2031853765431607444

SoCon First Team All-Tournament - Brian Taylor II

#GoBucs | #OurHouseOurTime https://t.co/gGzXUQwxjf

Tweet 2031853884549792240

Western Carolina Basketball

Western Carolina

Camp registration is open! Sign up today!👏 https://t.co/TX7s5Vbgoq

Tweet 2031765941424386245

UNCG Basketball

UNC Greensboro

North Carolina Greensboro

Thank you to @FlowAutomotive and everyone who donated items to support our local Humane Society! Your donations are going to make a world of difference for our furry friends while they wait for their forever homes. 🐾🐾
#letsgoG #HumaneSociety  #AdoptDontShop https://t.co/Q8OkRw5nzC

Tweet 2031755703006695844

Wofford Men's Basketball

Wofford

Wofford College

Chapter 1📖✅

#ConquerandPrevail #ForTheW https://t.co/Xcxyti5I4N

Tweet 2031731360541372753

Samford Men's Basketball

Samford Bulldogs

Samford University

All-Tournament Team for @jallday__2 👏👏

#AllForSAMford https://t.co/MxVNu7C39E

Tweet 2031508803779211712

Congratulations to Justin Neely &amp; KJ Younger on being named to the 2026 @SoConSports All-Tournament Teams! #letsgoG https://t.co/MmiSzNtrVS

Tweet 2031465073441489399

The Citadel Basketball

The Citadel

Citadel

Bulldog Nation, thank you for bringing the energy to the MAC all season long! 

We appreciate you showing up and standing behind our team every step of the way.

The work continues. Go Bulldogs!

#TogetherWeAttack https://t.co/TrjrdIblJX

Tweet 2031452969510502491

🔹𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙤𝙡𝙖 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚🔹

Sola Adebisi earns SoCon All-Tournament Second Team honors🦴

#𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐖𝐞𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐤 https://t.co/co3TDbp25Q

Tweet 2031423292804837446

Furman Basketball

Furman University

CHAMPIONS⚔️🏆

#AllDIN // #BetterTogether https://t.co/lsOqN4kfaD

Tweet 2031181667587498478

Alex Wilkins.jpg

SoCon White:Red Logo.png

The Southern Conference

Southern Conference

Furman's Wilkins A Finalist For Lou Henson Mid-Major Player Of The Year Honors

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 6 Furman 76, No. 1 ETSU 61 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The No. 5 seed Furman Paladins earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament on Monday night by beating regular-season champion ETSU, 76-61, in the title game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship at Harrah's Cherokee Center. The Paladins, who lost both regular season games to the Mocs, controlled Monday's game for much of the night, shooting 50.9 percent from the field and outrebounding ETSU, 36-24. Forward Cooper Bowser made 9-of-12 field-goal attempts and finished with a game-high of 21 points to lead the Paladins. He also led both teams in rebounds with 11. Furman reserve guard Tom House added 13 points and guard Alex Wilkins, who was voted the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, contributed 12 points for Furman, which improved to 22-12 in winning the SoCon championship for the second time in the last four years under coach Bob Richey. ETSU guard Brian Taylor II and forward Blake Barkley scored 16 and 14 points, respectively, for ETSU (23-11). Furman shot 60 percent from the field in the opening half and held a 42-35 lead. Bowser dominated inside, making all six of his field-goal attempts as he scored 14 points before the break. Furman eventually built a 64-48 lead before ETSU went on an 11-4 run to pull within 68-59 with 3:58 remaining. The Paladins stopped the bleeding and went on to cruise to the championship victory. Things to know- Going back to the semifinals, Bowser made 14 straight field goals before a miss in the second half on Monday. He finished the tournament making 21-of-30 attempts for 70 percent.- Furman made 12-of-15 free throws for a three-game total of 51-of-61 for 83.6 percent.- After making a total of 19 3-pointers in its first two games, the Bucs connected on just 3-of-16 attempts (18.8 percent) against Furman. The Paladins made 10-of-26 (38.5 percent) in Monday night's game. All-Tournament Team First team Blake Barkley, ETSUBrian Taylor II, ETSUCooper Bowser, FurmanAlex Wilkins, Furman (MOP)Justin Neely, UNCG   Second team Sola Adebisi, The CitadelJaylen Smith, ETSUTom House, FurmanKJ Younger, UNCGJadin Booth, Samford   Knight Commission Pinnacle Award (highest GPA on championship-winning team) Ben VanderWal, Furman 2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Friday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar) Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 88, (8) Chattanooga 85 Game 2 - (7) UNCG 84, (10) VMI 70   Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+/SCETV) Game 3 - (1) ETSU 83, (9) The Citadel 76 Game 4 - (7) UNCG 75, (2) Wofford 72Game 5 - (6) Furman 86, (3) Samford 81Game 6 - (5) Western Carolina 77, (4) Mercer 73   Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Game 7 - (1) ETSU 69, (5) Western Carolina 67 Game 8 - (6) Furman 81, (7) UNCG 75 Monday, March 9 (ESPN) (6) Furman 76, (1) ETSU 61</div>

Photo by Jeremy Fleming

No. 6 Furman wins the SoCon Tournament title

2026 Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Championship

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 1 ETSU 69, No. 5 Western Carolina 67 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – No. 1 seed ETSU avenged its two regular season losses to No. 5 Western Carolina, rallying from a 17-point second-half deficit for a 69-67 win in a semifinal game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville on Sunday. Mocs forward Blake Barkley capped a 19-point performance with a three-point play with 38.8 seconds remaining, giving ETSU a 68-67 lead. After a missed shot by Western Carolina, Brian Taylor II was fouled and made one of two free throws for a 69-67 lead. He led the Mocs in scoring with 22 points. Western Carolina missed two 3-point attempts in the final seconds of the game. The Catamounts, which had an seven-game winning streak snapped, finished with a 15-16 record. ETSU (23-10) is back in the championship game for the second time in three seasons. The team fell to Samford in the 2024 title game. The Bucs last won the SoCon title in 2020 with a win over Wofford. Marcus Kell scored 18 points for the Catamounts, who were trying to advance to the title game for the first time since 2014.  Western Carolina dominated the first half, leading 38-24 at halftime. The Catamounts increased their lead to 41-24 before the Mocs began their comeback. Things to know- After shooting 33 percent in the first half, the Bucs made 15-of-24 attempts in the second half for a blistering 62.5 percent.- Led by Barkley, the Mocs held a 28-22 advantage with points in the paint.- Western Carolina won the two earlier games against ETSU by a total of six points.  ****** No. 6 Furman 81, No. UNCG 75 ASHEVILLE, N.C.-- Freshman guard Alex Wilkins was unstoppable in the second half, scoring 28 of his career-high 34 points to rally No. 6 Furman to an 81-75 win over No. 7 UNCG in a semifinal game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship on Sunday night.Furman, who won the tournament in 2023, advanced to the title game for the fourth time in the last five years.  The Paladins will play No. 1 seed ETSU on Monday night at 7 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPN. The crowd at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville saw Wilkins go from making 2-of-8 field-goal attempts in the first half to 8-of-9 in the second, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Wilkins was perfect on 10 free throws including two for the Paladins' final points. Wilkins' previous high had been a 33-point performance against Chattanooga on Feb. 1. Furman began the second half trailing, 38-27. There were five ties and five lead changes when Furman took the lead for good, 61-58, on a 3-pointer by Eddrin Bronson with 6:40 remaining.  From there, Wilkins scored 12 of the team's final 18 points. Furman forward Cooper Bowser made all six of his field-goal attempts, finishing with 14 points. Bronson added 12. Justin Neely had another big game for UNCG, making 9-of-12 field-goal attempts and finishing with 27 points. Teammates Lilian Marville and KJ Younger finished with 20 and 15, respectively. Things to know- Furman lost both regular-season games to ETSU, 75-71, in overtime on Feb. 4, and, 78-69, on Feb. 18.- The Paladins have made 39-of-46 free throws in their two tournament games. - Furman is 9-0 when they score 80 or more points.  2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Friday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar) Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 88, (8) Chattanooga 85 Game 2 - (7) UNCG 84, (10) VMI 70   Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+/SCETV) Game 3 - (1) ETSU 83, (9) The Citadel 76 Game 4 - (7) UNCG 75, (2) Wofford 72Game 5 - (6) Furman 86, (3) Samford 81Game 6 - (5) Western Carolina 77, (4) Mercer 73   Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Game 7 - (1) ETSU 69, (5) Western Carolina 67 Game 8 - (6) Furman 81, (7) UNCG 75 Monday, March 9 (ESPN) (1) ETSU vs. (6) Furman, 7 p.m.</div>

No. 1 ETSU and No. 5 Furman set to meet in the SoCon finals

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 6 Furman 86, No. 3 Samford 81 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – No. 6 Furman beat No. 3 Samford for third time this season, advancing to the semifinals of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament for the fifth straight year with an 86-81 win at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville on Saturday night. The Paladins (20-12) will play No. 7 UNCG in the first semifinal game on Sunday at 4 p.m.  Furman senior guard Tom House came off the bench for the sixth time in the last seven games and led the Paladins with 20 points.  He made seven free throws in the last 49.2 seconds to keep Samford from making a late run. Paladins starting guard Alex Wilkins, a second-team all-conference selection, scored 19 points and Cooper Bowser added 14 for Furman. Jadin Booth, the SoCon Player of the Year, scored 34 points for Samford (18-14). He made 10-of-17 field goal attempts including 8-of-15 on 3-point attempts. The first half ended in a 46-46 tie. Samford led early in the second half before the Paladins took control. A 3-pointer by House gave Furman a 75-65 lead with 3:14 remaining before the late flurry by the Bulldogs. Things to know- Furman split with UNCG during the season, winning on the road 89-66, and losing at home, 67-64.- House scored 15 of his points in the second half. - With 11 made 3-pointers, the Paladins have 13 games this season with 10 or more from behind the arc.  ****** No. 5 Western Carolina 77, No. 4 Mercer 73 ASHEVILLE, N.C.-- The Western Carolina Catamounts came back from a 17-point deficit in the first half to defeat Mercer, 77-73, in the quarterfinals of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championships at Harrah's Cherokee Center Saturday night.The No. 5 Catamounts (15-15), will play top-seeded ETSU in the semifinals on Sunday at 4 p.m.  Against No. 4 Mercer, Western Carolina fell behind, 28-11, less than halfway through the opening half. Led by Tidjiane Dioumassi, who scored 15 of his team-leading 21 points in the first half, the Catamounts took a 36-35 lead just before intermission on a 3-pointer by Tahlan Pettway. Mercer started quickly again and went out to a 58-49 lead midway through the second half. The Catamounts came back again and eventually took the lead for good on a pair of free throws by Marcus Kell for a 73-72 lead with 31 seconds left. Cord Stansberry scored Western Carolina's final four points on free throws, including two that gave them a 76-73 lead with four seconds remaining. In addition to Dioumassi, Pettway (18), Kell (15) and Stansberry (13) scored in double figures for Western Carolina, which now has a seven-game winning streak. Baraka Okojie scored 26 points to lead Mercer (15-15.). Things to know- WCU was the only SoCon team to beat ETSU twice during the regular season.- The Catamounts had 27 second-chance points, compared to eight for Mercer.- Western Carolina made 15-of-20 free throws. The Bears were just 11-of-19 from the line  2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Friday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar) Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 88, (8) Chattanooga 85 Game 2 - (7) UNCG 84, (10) VMI 70   Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+/SCETV) Game 3 - (1) ETSU 83, (9) The Citadel 76 Game 4 - (7) UNCG 75, (2) Wofford 72Game 5 - (6) Furman 86, (3) Samford 81Game 6 - (5) Western Carolina 77, (4) Mercer 73   Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Game 7 - (1) ETSU vs. (5) Western Carolina, 4 p.m. Game 8 - (7) UNCG vs. (6) Furman, 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9 (ESPN or ESPN2) Championship game, 7 p.m.</div>

1I7A9595.jpg

Mercer

No. 6 Furman, No. 5 Western Carolina advance to the SoCon semifinals

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 1 ETSU, No. 7 UNCG advance to the SoCon semifinalsBucs have strong second half in quarterfinal win; Spartans upset second-seeded Wofford Terriers No. 1 ETSU 83, No. 9 The Citadel 76 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Top-seeded ETSU relied on hot shooting in the second half to break away from No. 9 seed The Citadel for an 83-76 victory in the opening quarterfinal game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville on Saturday afternoon. The Buccaneers, who held just a 36-32 lead after the opening half, shot 66.7 percent in the final 20 minutes on 16-of-24 shooting. ETSU finished at 56.4 percent for the game. ETSU had a 77-61 lead with 1:19 remaining before The Citadel ended the game on a 15-6 run to bring the score back to within single digits. Leading the way for the Bucs was redshirt sophomore forward Blake Barkley, who made 10-of-11 field-goal attempts on his way to a 24-point performance. Barkley dominated the paint throughout the game but also was perfect on three 3-point attempts for the Buccaneers. The other ETSU players that finished in double figures were Jordan McCullum (13 points), Brian Taylor II (11) and Jaylen Smith (11). Less than 24 hours after hitting a 3-point basket in the closing seconds to beat Chattanooga, Bulldogs forward Sola Adebisi made 10-of-15 field-goal attempts to lead The Citadel with 23 points. Braxton Williams added 19 points alongside Adebisi. Taylor II scored six of his points late in the first half to spark a 9-2 run that enabled the Bucs to rally from a 30-27 deficit for a 36-32 lead by halftime. Things to know:- Adebisi finished the tournament with 49 points on 19-of-30 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-8 on 3-point attempts.- In addition to scoring 11 points, ETSU's Taylor II led all players with seven assists.- ETSU made 10-of-25 3-point attempts for 40 percent and shot a blistering 70 percent (21-of-30) from inside the arc.  ****** No. 7 UNCG 75, No. 2 Wofford 72 ASHEVILLE, N.C.-- No. 7 UNCG advanced to the semifinals of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship with a hard-fought, down to the wire 75-72 win over defending champion and No. 2 seed Wofford on Saturday at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville.UNCG forward Valentino Pinedo broke a 70-70 tie when he scored on a tip-in for a 72-70 lead with 37.2 seconds left after teammate Donald Whitehead Jr. missed a layup. Two possessions later, Whitehead made a free throw, moving UNCG ahead, 73-70, but missed the second as the ball was nearly tipped out of bounds. Wofford's Nils Machowski stole a pass and drove for a layup, cutting the Spartans' lead to one at 73-72 as the Terriers then called timeout with 12.4 seconds left. Wofford tried to steal the inbounds and fouled Spartans forward Justin Neely with 8.3 seconds remaining. Neely, who grabbed a game-high 24 rebounds, then made two free throws for the last of his team-high 22 points. Following a timeout, Machowski drove up the floor and before he reached halfcourt he launched a long shot, but it fell short as UNCG grabbed the miss as the buzzer sounded. Wofford’s Kahmare Holmes had a game-high 24 points. Other players who scored in double figures were KJ Younger (19) and Noah Norgaard (17) of UNCG and Machowski (22) and Chace Watley (12) of Wofford. Things to know -- Wofford finished with just two turnovers after not committing one in the first half. UNCG had nine turnovers, of which the Terriers turned into 10 points.- Thanks to Neely's 24 boards, the Spartans held a 47-34 advantage in rebounds. Both teams grabbed 10 on the offensive end. - The Spartans advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2021, when they beat Mercer in the title game.  2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Friday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar) Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 88, (8) Chattanooga 85 Game 2 - (7) UNCG 84, (10) VMI 70   Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+/SCETV) Game 3 - (1) ETSU 83, (9) The Citadel 76 Game 4 - (7) UNCG 75, (2) Wofford 72Game 5 - (3) Samford vs. (6) Furman, 6 p.m.Game 6 - (4) Mercer vs. (5) Western Carolina, 8:30 p.m.   Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Game 7 - (1) ETSU vs. Game 6 winner, 4 p.m. Game 8 - (7) UNCG vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9 (ESPN or ESPN2) Championship game, 7 p.m.</div>

No. 1 ETSU, No. 7 UNCG advance to the SoCon semifinals

<div class="payload-richtext">No. 9 The Citadel 88, No. 8 Chattanooga 85 ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Senior forward Sola Adebisi capped a memorable game with a fantastic shot, hitting a 26-foot 3-pointer that broke a tie with under 10 seconds left and gave No. 9 seed The Citadel an 88-85 win over No. 8 Chattanooga in the opening game of the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Friday night at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville. The win was the first in the SoCon Tournament for The Citadel since 2022. The Bulldogs advanced to the quarterfinals where they will play No. 1 seed ETSU on Saturday at noon. During a game that had 21 lead changes, Adebisi finished a 26-point night with the final 3-pointer coming just left of the top of the key. Following two timeouts, Chattanooga's Collin Mullholland missed a 3-point attempt from the top of the key that would have tied the game. Adebisi, who came into the game averaging 9.0 points per game, made 9-of-15 field-goal attempts, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and five free throws. He also led The Citadel with seven rebounds. The two teams both put on an impressive offensive show as each shot better than 50 percent overall. The Bulldogs were 32-of-59 (54.2 percent) and 15-of-31 (48.4 percent) on 3-point tries. Chattanooga made 33-of-59 attempts (55.9 percent) and was 11-of-25 (44 percent) on 3-pointers. The Citadel had four players in double figures, including reserve guard Keynan Davis, who made 6-of-8 3-point attempts and finished with 20 points. Chattanooga had five players in double figures led by Tate Darner and Jordan Frison with 16 points each. The score was tied 49-49 at halftime. The Citadel began the second half hot, building a 66-56 lead before the Mocs rallied. The Mocs led 81-77 with 3:35 left, but the Bulldogs battled back. There were four lead changes and one tie before Adebisi's winning shot in the final seconds. Things to know- The teams were even in most facets of the game. Chattanooga had a 34-32 advantage in points in the paint; The Citadel's bench outscored the Mocs' reserves 22-21; Chattanooga won the rebounding battle 30-29.- The Citadel lost both games to No. 1 ETSU in the regular season- The Bulldogs' Davis scored 17 of his 20 points in nine minutes of play during the first half.  ****** No. 7 UNCG 84, No. 10 VMI 70 ASHEVILLE, N.C.-- Since winning the conference tournament title in 2021, UNCG had gone four years without winning a game in the Ingles Southern Conference Men's Basketball Championship. That changed Friday night as the seventh-seeded Spartans eventually pulled away from No. 10 VMI for an 84-70 win in the second first round game at Harrah's Cherokee Center – Asheville.The win moved UNCG into a quarterfinal matchup against No. 2 Wofford on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. UNCG freshman guard KJ Younger scored 29 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor. He made three 3-point baskets and all six of his free throws in the game. Forward Justin Neely, who earlier this week was named to the All-SoCon first team by the coaches, scored 14 points and had 10 rebounds for his 19th double-double of the season. VMI was led by sophomore guard Linus Holmstrom, who made six 3-pointers and finished with 24 points. The Spartans never trailed against VMI, taking a 39-27 halftime lead and leading by as many as 18 points in the second half. Things to know- Spartans guard Donald Whitehead Jr., who started earlier in the season, came off the bench for the ninth straight time. He contributed 13 points and five assists in 29 minutes of playing time.- The Spartans outscored VMI in the paint 46-26 and outrebounded the Keydets 40-29.- Both teams shot over 50 percent in the second of the game. 2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Friday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar) Game 1 - (9) The Citadel 88, (8) Chattanooga 85 Game 2 - (7) UNCG 84, (10) VMI 70   Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+/SCETV) Game 3 - (1) ETSU vs. (9) The Citadel, Noon Game 4 - (2) Wofford vs. (7) UNCG, 2:30 p.m.Game 5 - (3) Samford vs. (6) Furman, 6 p.m.Game 6 - (4) Mercer vs. (5) Western Carolina, 8:30 p.m.   Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Game 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 4 p.m. Game 8 - Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9 (ESPN or ESPN2) Championship game, 7 p.m.</div>

IMG_2934.jpg

Chattanooga Mocs

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

The Citadel, UNCG advance to SoCon quarterfinals

<div class="payload-richtext"> SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford guard Jadin Booth was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year as the league announced its 2025-26 men’s basketball postseason awards on Wednesday. Selections were made by the league’s head coaches of the 10 member institutions.  ETSU head coach Brooks Savage was named the Anton Foy Coach of the Year. Booth was also named SoCon Newcomer of the Year and Buccaneers guard Jaylen Smith was named SoCon Sixth Man of the Year. ETSU’s Cam Morris III and Mercer’s Armani Mighty were voted co-SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. The 2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship begins Friday at 5 p.m. at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina, and will be broadcast on ESPN+. Friday’s first round games will appear on ESPN+ as well as select Nexstar affiliates. Saturday’s contests will be broadcast on South Carolina ETV in conjunction with ESPN+. Sunday’s semifinals will air live on ESPNU, and the championship game is scheduled for Monday at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.   All-Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Teams    Malcolm U. Pitt Player of the Year Jadin Booth, Gr., G, Samford   Newcomer of the Year Jadin Booth, Gr., G, Samford Sixth Man of the Year Jaylen Smith, Jr., G, ETSU Defensive Player of the Year Cam Morris III, Gr., F, ETSU Armani Mighty, R-Jr., F, Mercer Anton Foy Coach of the Year Brooks Savage, ETSU   First team Baraka Okojie, MercerJustin Neely, UNCGJadin Booth, SamfordDylan Faulkner, SamfordKahmare Holmes, Wofford   Second team Cam Morris III, ETSUBrian Taylor II, ETSUAlex Wilkins, FurmanArmani Mighty, MercerNils Machowski, Wofford   Third team Blake Barkley, ETSU Jordan Frison, Chattanooga TJ Johnson, VMICord Stansberry, Western CarolinaCayden Vasko, Wofford  All-Defensive team Cam Morris III, ETSU Allen Strothers, ETSUBen VanderWal, FurmanArmani Mighty, MercerDylan Faulkner, Samford   Notes- Jadin Booth is Samford’s first SoCon Player of the Year. Booth led the conference in scoring (21.2 ppg). He was the only player in the SoCon to average over 20 points per game during the regular season and was the only player to score 40 points in a contest this season. - Booth leads the NCAA in 3-pointers made (119) and 3-pointers made per game (4.10). He also leads the league in 3-point percentage (.431) and free throw percentage (.870). - Booth is the league’s third recipient of Newcomer of the Year, joining Samford’s Rylan Jones and Chattanooga’s Frank Champion who won the honor in the previous two seasons. - Cam Morris III is ETSU’s second straight recipient of SoCon Defensive Player of the Year. Morris III is one of just two players in the conference that averages over one block and steal per game. Armani Mighty is Mercer’s first defensive player of the award recipient. Mighty led the league in blocks (54) and offensive rebounds per game (4.10). Both Morris III and Mighty were also voted to the all-defensive team and the second-team all-conference squad.  - ETSU’s Jaylen Smith is the conference’s third recipient of Sixth Man of the Year. Smith is in the top 10 in the SoCon in assists (91) and steals (41).   - Brooks Savage was the first ETSU coach to be named the Anton Foy Coach of the Year since Steve Forbes received the honor in the 2019-20 season. Savage guided the Bucs to their first regular season crown in six seasons as the squad went 21-10 overall and 13-5 in SoCon play. The Buccaneers enter the Ingles SoCon Basketball Championship as the No. 1 seed. - Between the all-conference teams and the all-defensive team, five of the 10 squads had at least two representatives. </div>

SoCon MBK All-Conference.jpg

All-Southern Conference men’s basketball teams announced

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga guard Jordan Frison has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for all contests from Feb. 23-March 1. The award is selected by the league office. Frison, who also won the award on Dec. 22, had an offensive explosion for Chattanooga in the Mocs’ final two games of the regular season. In an 85-80 setback versus UNCG on Feb. 26, the junior scored 28 points on 12-for-17 shooting, including a pair of makes from beyond the arc, along with three assists. Two days later, the native of Memphis, Tennessee, poured in 33 points, shooting 14-for-18 from the field as the Mocs defeated VMI, 86-79. Frison also had three rebounds and three assists against the Keydets. For the week, Frison averaged 30.5 points, 3.0 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 74.3 percent from the field. Frison played 69 minutes in the two games, logging a 6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Chattanooga (13-18, 7-11 SoCon) enters the 2026 Ingles SoCon Men’s Basketball Championship as the No. 8 seed and will take on the ninth seed, The Citadel, at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 6, inside Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina. The winner of that contest will face top-seeded ETSU at noon on Saturday, March 7. Other nominees: Sola Adebisi (The Citadel), Lilian Marville (UNCG), Jadin Booth (Samford), Cord Stansberry (Western Carolina), and Nils Machowski (Wofford)  2025-26 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10             TJ Johnson, Jr., F, VMINov. 17             Keaton Norris, Sr., G, SamfordNov. 24             Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGDec. 1              Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSUDec. 8              Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordDec. 15             Linus Holmstrom, So., G, VMIDec. 22             Jordan Frison, Jr., G, ChattanoogaDec. 29             Jayden Tyler, Fr., G, WoffordJan. 5               Nils Machowski, Jr., G, WoffordJan. 12             Baraka Okojie, Jr., G, MercerJan. 19             Armani Mighty, R-Jr., C, MercerJan. 26             Kahmare Holmes, So., G, WoffordFeb. 2               Alex Wilkins, Fr., G, FurmanFeb. 9               Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGFeb. 16             Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordFeb. 23             Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSUMarch 2            Jordan Frison, Jr., G, Chattanooga</div>

SoCon_MKB_3.2_POTW.jpg

Chattanooga’s Frison named SoCon Player of the Week

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Regular-season Southern Conference champion ETSU is the No. 1 seed in the Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship, which takes place March 6-9 at Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina.   The tournament begins Friday, March 6, with a pair of first-round games. Four quarterfinal games follow on Saturday, March 7, with the semifinals on Sunday, March 8, and the title game on Monday, March 9, at 7 p.m. The semifinals will air on ESPNU, while Monday’s championship game will air live on ESPN or ESPN2. The other six games will air on ESPN+, with Friday’s first round matchups also appearing on select Nexstar affiliates and Saturday’s showdowns also broadcasting on South Carolina ETV. ETSU locked up the outright regular season title with a 87-75 victory at UNCG on Feb. 21. The Buccaneers’ win over the Spartans clinched the program’s first regular season title in six seasons. ETSU enters the postseason with a 21-10 overall record and a 13-5 ledger in conference play. Three wins in Asheville will give the Bucs their ninth SoCon Tournament crown. ETSU opens play on Saturday, March 7, at noon, where the Buccaneers will take on No. 8 seed Chattanooga or No. 9 seed The Citadel, who will face off in the first round on Friday at 5 p.m. The Mocs and Bulldogs split their two meetings in the regular season, with the road team winning each of those matchups. Friday’s second contest will see No. 7 seed UNCG take on No. 10 seed VMI at 7:30 p.m. The Spartans won both matchups in the regular season, winning, 85-78, on Jan. 21, and 92-71, on Feb. 11. The winner of that game will advance to face No. 2 seed Wofford on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. The Terriers, who are the defending tournament champions, went 19-12 overall and 11-7 in SoCon play under first-year coach Kevin Giltner. Wofford swept VMI during the season and splits its matchups with UNCG. Saturday’s third game will see No. 3 seed Samford take on No. 6 seed Furman at 6 p.m. The Bulldogs are winners of eight of their last nine game entering the postseason. The Paladins were victorious in each of the games in the regular season, winning 77-73 in Birmingham on Jan. 14, and 78-73 at home on Jan. 29. Samford last won the tournament in 2024, while the Furman last took home the title in 2023. No. 4 seed Mercer will take on No. 5 seed Western Carolina in the final quarterfinal contest on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. The two teams played each other in the first round of the tournament last year, with the Bears sneaking by the Catamounts 67-66. On Saturday, both teams ended the regular season on a high as Mercer topped ETSU, while Western Carolina defeated Furman for its sixth straight win. The two squads split the matchups in the regular season, with the Bears winning back on Jan. 21, and the Catamounts coming out ahead on Feb. 25.  2026 Ingles Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship Friday, March 6 (ESPN+/Nexstar) Game 1 - (8) Chattanooga vs. (9) The Citadel, 5 p.m. Game 2 - (7) UNCG vs. (10) VMI, 7:30 p.m.   Saturday, March 7 (ESPN+/SCETV) Game 3 - (1) ETSU vs. Game 1 winner, Noon Game 4 - (2) Wofford vs. Game 2 winner, 2:30 p.m.Game 5 - (3) Samford vs. (6) Furman, 6 p.m.Game 6 - (4) Mercer vs. (5) Western Carolina, 8:30 p.m.   Sunday, March 8 (ESPNU) Game 7 - Game 3 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 4 p.m. Game 8 - Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6:30 p.m.   Monday, March 9 (ESPN or ESPN2) Championship game, 7 p.m.</div>

SoCon BKB Championship

SoCon men’s basketball tournament bracket set

ingles

Women’s Basketball

The Ingles Southern Conference Mascot Challenge

<div class="payload-richtext">Asheville, NC (March 5th – 9th, 2026)---- The Ingles Southern Conference (SoCon) Basketball Tournament arrives in downtown Asheville, North Carolina. Ingles and SoCon work with Eblen Charities and select area hotels to collect food for the Hoops Against Hunger program. In 2025 Eblen collected over 9000 pounds of food distributed to the Buncombe County Family Resource Center to help feed area children during school breaks. For more information and a list of participating hotels please go to <a href="https://www.eblencharities.org/hoops-against-hunger" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 https://www.eblencharities.org/hoops-against-hunger
 </a>. Other events associated with the tournament are Downtown Dribble, Education Days and the Mascot Challenge.  The Ingles Mascot Challenge is another way Ingles likes to get involved in our communities. The Ingles Mascot Challenge is an annual event where fans can vote for their favorite mascot hype video, if their school chooses to participate. (Please note that UTC chose not participate in this year’s Mascot Challenge due to an existing sponsor conflict but was not precluded from participating by Ingles Markets.) The challenge is made to provide a little friendly competition off the court. The winning mascot receives a $1,000 scholarship to the winning school’s athletic department and Ingles Markets will donate another $1,000 to Hoops Against Hunger on behalf of the winning school. Voting for your favorite mascot is open to everyone and you can vote until 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 8th, 2026. You can vote once per day, per device. To view and vote for your favorite mascot challenge video go to <a href="https://www.ingles-markets.com/mascotchallenge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 https://www.ingles-markets.com/mascotchallenge
 </a>.  The Ingles Southern Conference Basketball Tournament features Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship’s and is an affordable family outing. For more information on tickets and events visit - <a href="https://www.soconinasheville.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 https://www.soconinasheville.com
 </a>   ###  About Ingles Markets, Incorporated   <a href="http://www.ingles-markets.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 Ingles Markets, Incorporated
 </a> is a leading grocer with operations in six southeastern states. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the Company operates 197 supermarkets. At December 27, 2025, three of the four stores temporarily closed due to damage sustained in Hurricane Helene remained closed, but are expected to reopen during 2026 and 2027. In conjunction with its supermarket operations, the Company operates neighborhood shopping centers, most of which contain an Ingles supermarket. The Company also owns a fluid dairy facility that supplies Ingles supermarkets and unaffiliated customers. To learn more about Ingles Markets visit <a href="http://www.ingles-markets.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 ingles-markets.com
 </a>  About The Southern Conference The Southern Conference The Southern Conference is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, consisting of 10 full-member schools across six states in 20 sponsored sports. Nine other institutions serve as affiliate members in the SoCon-sponsored sports of wrestling and rifle. The SoCon is celebrating its 105th anniversary in 2026. The fifth-oldest NCAA Division I college athletic association, the SoCon contested the first-ever collegiate conference basketball tournament in 1921, tackled freshman eligibility in 1922, became the first conference to adopt the 3-point field goal in basketball in 1980 and developed women’s championships in 1984.   About Eblen Charities Eblen Charities is based in Asheville, North Carolina, Eblen Charities has been dedicated to serving the community for over 35 years. Focused on assisting individuals and families facing financial, medical, or emergency hardships, Eblen Charities provides vital support through various programs and community partnerships. For more information, visit [website] or follow our efforts to support the community visit <a href="http://www.eblencharities.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">
 www.eblencharities.org
 </a>  </div>

Ingles Markets and The Southern Conference Basketball Tournament 

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU guard Brian Taylor II has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for all contests from Feb. 16-22. The award is selected by the league office. Taylor II, who also won the honor on Dec. 1, led ETSU to a pair of road conference wins last week. On Feb. 18, the senior had a team-high 17 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block in a 78-69 win over Furman. Three days, later, the native of St. Louis, Missouri, scored 25 points on 10-for-12 shooting, including going 6-for-6 in the second half, as the Buccaneers defeated UNCG, 87-75. Taylor II scored 10 straight points in the final minutes of the contest, pushing the Bucs’ lead to 13 points and helping seal ETSU’s first outright regular season crown since the 2019-20 season. For the week, Taylor II averaged 21.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 55.6 percent from the field. Taylor II played 76 minutes over the two games and committed just one turnover. ETSU (21-8, 13-3 SoCon) hosts Wofford on Feb. 25, before concluding the regular season at Mercer on Feb. 28. Other nominees: Braxton Williams (The Citadel), Baraka Okojie (Mercer), Justin Neely (UNCG), Jordan Frison (Chattanooga), Cord Stansberry (Western Carolina), and Kahmare Holmes (Wofford)  2025-26 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10             TJ Johnson, Jr., F, VMINov. 17             Keaton Norris, Sr., G, SamfordNov. 24             Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGDec. 1              Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSUDec. 8              Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordDec. 15             Linus Holmstrom, So., G, VMIDec. 22             Jordan Frison, Jr., G, ChattanoogaDec. 29             Jayden Tyler, Fr., G, WoffordJan. 5               Nils Machowski, Jr., G, WoffordJan. 12             Baraka Okojie, Jr., G, MercerJan. 19             Armani Mighty, R-Jr., C, MercerJan. 26             Kahmare Holmes, So., G, WoffordFeb. 2               Alex Wilkins, Fr., G, FurmanFeb. 9               Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGFeb. 16             Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordFeb. 23             Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSU</div>

SoCon_MKB_2.23_POTW.jpg

ETSU’s Taylor named SoCon Player of the Week

SoCon Interview: Martin Newton, NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Committee Vice Chair

ETSU REG SEASON.jpg

ETSU clinches SoCon Regular Season Title

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford forward Dylan Faulkner has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for all contests from Feb. 9-15. The award is selected by the league office. Faulkner, who also won the honor of Dec. 8, led Samford to wins over Wofford and ETSU last week. On Feb. 11, the junior recorded 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in just 15 minutes of play as the Bulldogs defeated Wofford, 97-80, at home. Three days later, the native of Calhoun, Georgia, had 24 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in Samford’s 82-72 overtime win at first-place ETSU. Faulkner’s performances marked his sixth and seventh consecutive double-double. For the week, Faulkner averaged 19.5 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.5 blocks, while shooting 57.7 percent from the floor. Samford (15-12, 8-6 SoCon), who is on a five-game winning streak, travel to The Citadel on Feb. 19, and Mercer on Feb. 21. Other nominees: Asa Thomas (Furman), Baraka Okojie (Mercer), Justin Neely (UNCG), and Julien Soumaoro (Western Carolina)  2025-26 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10             TJ Johnson, Jr., F, VMINov. 17             Keaton Norris, Sr., G, SamfordNov. 24             Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGDec. 1              Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSUDec. 8              Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordDec. 15             Linus Holmstrom, So., G, VMIDec. 22             Jordan Frison, Jr., G, ChattanoogaDec. 29             Jayden Tyler, Fr., G, WoffordJan. 5               Nils Machowski, Jr., G, WoffordJan. 12             Baraka Okojie, Jr., G, MercerJan. 19             Armani Mighty, R-Jr., C, MercerJan. 26             Kahmare Holmes, So., G, WoffordFeb. 2               Alex Wilkins, Fr., G, FurmanFeb. 9               Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGFeb. 16             Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, Samford</div>

SoCon_MKB_2.16_POTW.jpg

Samford’s Faulkner named SoCon Player of the Week

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference and Big South Conference today announced a new two-year basketball scheduling series beginning in 2026-27 that will feature 18 men’s games and 18 women’s match-ups played on selected dates each season. Most schools will play one home game and one road game against different opponents, and the contests would be in addition to any current agreement in place between two institutions. This is the SoCon's second schedule alliance agreement. The conference will continue its scheduling alliance with the Atlantic Sun. The men’s game dates are currently scheduled for Nov. 18 and 21, 2026, and Nov. 17 and 20, 2027, with the women’s dates slated for Nov. 21 through Dec. 19, 2026, and Nov. 20 and Dec. 1, 2027. Opponent location would not repeat from 2026-27 to 2027-28, although some teams may be matched with the same opponent from one year to the next. All matchups and game dates will be determined by mutual agreement of both Commissioners. "Our athletic directors and basketball coaches continue to be proactive in addressing one of college basketball's most persistent challenges – Division I non-conference scheduling. This alliance with the Big South reflects a shared commitment to providing our student-athletes with competitive geographically aligned scheduling opportunities that strengthen our programs and give fans the quality matchups they seek,” said SoCon Commissioner Michael Cross. “By partnering with the Big South, we're taking a proactive approach to solving scheduling problems while creating games that will generate excitement across both leagues. This is exactly the kind of collaborative solution basketball needs and we’re looking forward to a long-standing partnership." “This scheduling alliance underscores our continued commitment to strengthening basketball in the Big South Conference,” said Big South Commissioner Sherika A. Montgomery. “Our basketball coaches and directors of athletics were united in the need for an intentional scheduling approach -- one that balances competitive excellence with regional relevance. The partnership with the Southern Conference enhances competitive opportunities, preserves regional rivalries, and delivers quality home games that strengthen the Big South’s basketball profile while enriching the experience for student-athletes and fans alike. This forward-looking initiative represents a strategic approach to scheduling and positions both conferences to further elevate their basketball profiles and competitive impact.” For the men’s annual series, opponents will not be determined until after the transfer portal closes but no later than May 31. The leagues will utilize predictive analytics to determine the best matchups. Projected NET rankings will be the primary factor in scheduling games. Whenever possible, secondary consideration will be given to geographic proximity. For the women’s series, opponents will be determined no later than April 1. Geographic proximity and NET rankings will be considered to create competitive matchups. ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CONFERENCE (www.SoConSports.com)The Southern Conference, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C., includes ten member institutions across six states: The Citadel, East Tennessee State University, Furman University, Mercer University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Samford University, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Virginia Military Institute, Western Carolina University, and Wofford College. Tennessee Tech University will join the SoCon as a full member for the 2026-27 season.WHAT’S THE BIG SOUTH? (www.BigSouthSports.com)For more than 40 years, the Big South Conference has been an exemplary leader in college athletics since its founding in 1983, dedicated to developing student-athletes through the pursuit of excellence in the classroom, community and field of play. The league’s growing presence as an NCAA Division I athletic conference is made evident by its multitude of athletic accomplishments, innovative marketing and media partnerships, increased television packages and most importantly, its commitment to fostering the academic, personal, social, athletic and leadership development of its student-athletes. Comprised of nine full member institutions sharing a common geographic region and similar academic values and purposes, the Big South’s remarkable history of achievement is characterized by the league’s 19 championship sports and the profound academic and life successes of its more than 3,200 student-athletes. This has evolved into the conference’s “Where Winners Are Made” mantra as part of a strategic emphasis through its Core Values of Academic Centrality; Athletic Excellence; Sportsmanship & Fair Play; and Student-Athlete Welfare. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.BigSouthSports.com">
 www.BigSouthSports.com
 </a>. -#ItsAllHere-</div>

SCBS

SOCON AND BIG SOUTH PARTNER FOR BASKETBALL SCHEDULING ALLIANCE 

SoCon Men's Basketball Interview: TJ Johnson, VMI

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG forward Justin Neely has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for all contests from Feb. 2-8. The award is selected by the league office. Neely, who also won the honor on Nov. 24, led the Spartans to a pair of conference wins. The graduate student finished with 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and a steal as UNCG defeated Western Carolina, 81-78, on Feb. 4. Neely made five free throws in the final three seconds of the contest, moving the Spartans from down by two to a three-point victory during a game where he shot 19-for-21 from the charity stripe. On Feb. 8, the native of Miami Beach, Florida, logged 24 points, 13 rebounds, three steals, one assist and one block in a 67-64 win at Furman. Neely is currently second in the country in rebounds per game (11.8). For the week, Neely averaged 24.5 points, 12.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals. Neely’s performance last week led to him becoming the first player in the conference to be win SoCon Player of the Week multiple times this season. Neely was also named the <a href="https://collegeinsider.com/justin-neely-earns-lou-henson-award-national-player-of-week-honors">
 Lou Henson Award National Player of the Week
 </a> on Monday. UNCG (10-15, 6-6 SoCon) welcomes VMI on Feb. 11, and Wofford on Valentine’s Day. Other nominees: Carter Kingsbury (The Citadel), Blake Barkley (ETSU), Jadin Booth (Samford), and Nils Machowski (Wofford)  2025-26 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10             TJ Johnson, Jr., F, VMINov. 17             Keaton Norris, Sr., G, SamfordNov. 24             Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGDec. 1              Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSUDec. 8              Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordDec. 15             Linus Holmstrom, So., G, VMIDec. 22             Jordan Frison, Jr., G, ChattanoogaDec. 29             Jayden Tyler, Fr., G, WoffordJan. 5               Nils Machowski, Jr., G, WoffordJan. 12             Baraka Okojie, Jr., G, MercerJan. 19             Armani Mighty, R-Jr., C, MercerJan. 26             Kahmare Holmes, So., G, WoffordFeb. 2               Alex Wilkins, Fr., G, FurmanFeb. 9               Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCG</div>

SoCon_MKB_2.9_POTW.jpg

UNCG’s Neely named SoCon Player of the Week

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel at Furman men’s basketball game on Wednesday, Feb. 25, will air on select Nexstar affiliates throughout the Southeast. The contest will tipoff at 6 p.m. ET. In the first matchup between the two teams on Jan. 21, The Citadel overcame a 19-point deficit to win 77-75 in overtime at home. Sola Adebisi had 22 points and eight rebounds in the first game to pace the Bulldogs, while Charles Johnston’s 15 points and 12 rebounds led the way for the Furman Paladins in the first meeting. The Citadel is currently 9-16 overall and 6-6 in SoCon play. The Bulldogs have won six of their last nine games after opening conference play with three straight losses. Furman is 16-9 overall with a 7-5 mark in league games. The Paladins dealt with a number of injuries throughout SoCon play but have welcomed back guard Asa Thomas and forward Cooper Bowser over the past two weeks. The game will also air concurrently on ESPN+. The remainder of the Nexstar schedule is below.   Nexstar affiliates with the opportunity to air games include: WMYT (Charlotte); WYCW (Spartanburg/Greenville/Asheville); WWCW (Roanoke, VA); WCBD (Charleston, SC); WBTW (Myrtle Beach, SC); WGHP (Greensboro/High Point/Winston-Salem); WHDF (Huntsville/Florence, AL); WJHL (Johnson City, TN). Although not Nexstar stations, EFLI (Chattanooga, TN) and WMUB (Macon, GA) will also have the opportunity to air games from this season’s package.   2025-26 Southern Conference Basketball games on Nexstar affiliates (all times Eastern) Wednesday, Feb. 11                The Citadel at Western Carolina, 6 p.m.*Thursday, Feb. 12                  Furman at Western Carolina, 6 p.m.Wednesday, Feb. 18                VMI at Wofford, 6 p.m.*Thursday, Feb. 19                  Mercer at Wofford, 6 p.m.Wednesday, Feb. 25                The Citadel at Furman, 6 p.m.Friday, March 6                       Coverage of Friday’s Ingles SoCon Basketball Championships, TBD *Denotes SoCon Women’s game</div>

2.25 Nexstar Wildcard.jpg

The Citadel at Furman on Feb. 25 selected for Nexstar broadcast

<div class="payload-richtext">SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman guard Alex Wilkins has been named the Southern Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week presented by Ingles for all contests from Jan. 26-Feb. 1. The award is selected by the league office. Wilkins won Furman’s first weekly honor after helping the Paladins go 2-0 last week. On Jan. 29, the freshman had 20 points, three assists and a block in a 78-73 victory over Samford. Three days later, the native of Mattapan, Massachusetts, poured in a career-high 33 points, along with five assists, three rebounds and two steals as Furman topped Chattanooga, 75-70. Wilkins’ 33 points marked the first time a Paladin freshman reached 30 points since Dec. 1995, and was one point off of the program’s freshman record of 34, which was set by Jonathan Moore in Dec.1976. For the week, Wilkins averaged 27.5 points and 4.0 assists per game, while shooting 68 percent from the field and 75 percent from behind the arc. Wilkins is currently fourth in the conference in scoring (18.7) and second in assists (5.1) per game. Furman (16-7, 7-3 SoCon) plays at ETSU on Feb. 4, before coming home to face UNCG on Feb. 8. Other nominees: Christian Moore (The Citadel), Cam Morris III (ETSU), Baraka Okojie (Mercer), KJ Younger (UNCG), and Dylan Faulkner (Samford)  2025-26 SoCon Men’s Basketball Players of the Week Nov. 10             TJ Johnson, Jr., F, VMINov. 17             Keaton Norris, Sr., G, SamfordNov. 24             Justin Neely, Gr., F, UNCGDec. 1              Brian Taylor II, Sr., G, ETSUDec. 8              Dylan Faulkner, Jr., F, SamfordDec. 15             Linus Holmstrom, So., G, VMIDec. 22             Jordan Frison, Jr., G, ChattanoogaDec. 29             Jayden Tyler, Fr., G, WoffordJan. 5               Nils Machowski, Jr., G, WoffordJan. 12             Baraka Okojie, Jr., G, MercerJan. 19             Armani Mighty, R-Jr., C, MercerJan. 26             Kahmare Holmes, So., G, WoffordFeb. 2               Alex Wilkins, Fr., G, Furman</div>

SoCon Men’s Basketball News

Headlines