October 20, 1997
GREENVILLE -- Furman University basketball's move into Timmons Arena in December and a home date against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in January highlight the Paladins' 1997-98 basketball schedule, which was released today by vice president for intercollegiate athletics Dr. John Block.
Furman, which will open the season on Nov. 15 with a home game against Newberry, is scheduled to play its first game in Timmons Arena on Dec. 30 against Northestern Illinois. The Paladins will officially dedicate the 5,500-seat, multipurpose facility prior to the Jan. 17 contest against Davidson; and on Jan. 26, Furman will host the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, who will be making their first trip to Greenville since 1982.
Under the direction of first year head coach Larry Davis, Furman will participate in the San Juan Shootout in December, when the Paladins take on St. Bonaventure in a first round game. Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, Loyola-Chicago, Oral Roberts, Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, and Southern Mississippi are other teams competing in the three-day tournament, which will mark Furman's first regular season tournament appearance since 1991.
The Paladins' 1997-98 regular season schedule includes 13 home games and 15 away contests, including road matchups with Vanderbilt (Nov. 18) and Clemson (Dec. 6), among others.
The 1998 Southern Conference Tournament is scheduled for Feb. 26 -Mar. 1 in Greensboro, N.C.
Furman returns four starters and eight lettermen, including consensus All-Southern Conference senior forward Chuck Vincent. A year ago, Vincent led Furman in scoring (16.2 ppg) and averaged a league leading 9.7 rebounds per game. The Paladins also welcome the return of redshirt sophomore forward Andre Kerr, who missed almost all of the 1996-97 campaign with a back injury. As a freshman two years ago, Kerr averaged 12.1 ppg and 5.6 rpg.