NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. - Anthony Thomas scored 21 points, including two free throws with 29.1 seconds left, as Furman held on to defeat Georgia Southern 73-70 Friday night at the Southern Conference tournament. <br>
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Thomas went 7-of-7, including five 3-pointers, to score for 19 points in the first half and the Paladins (16-13) led 50-37 at the break. His only second half points came with Furman clinging to a 69-68 lead in the dying seconds as he rattled in the first of his two free throws before swishing the second. <br>
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After Kordel Gibson's quick shot brought the Eagles (16-12) back within one, 71-70, Paul Foster added the clinching foul shots. <br>
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Julius Jenkins last-second heave was short and Furman reached the semifinals for the second time in three years. <br>
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That quarterfinal win two years ago also came against highly favored Georgia Southern. <br>
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The Paladins will meet College of Charleston or East Tennessee State on Saturday. The tournament concludes Sunday with the champion gaining an automatic NCAA tournament berth. <br>
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Jenkins had 17 points for the Eagles, who had four players with double figures. But they had no answer for the Paladins outside accuracy. <br>
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Furman was 27-of-46 from the field (58.7 percent) and hit eight 3-pointers. <br>
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Foster had 11 points for Furman. Kenny Zeigler and Karim Souchu had 10 points each. <br>
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Georgia Southern had chances to pull this out. <br>
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Jenkins went 1-of-2 from the line with his team down 69-67. Sean Peterson and Terry Williams both missed open 3-pointers in the last two minutes. The Eagles were 14-of-27 on free throws and made only three of their last eight.
