One team will punch their ticket to the big dance on Monday night as the Furman Paladins and the East Tennessee State Buccaneers face off on in the SoCon Championship.

Game Details

• Matchup: Furman Paladins (21-12, 10-8) vs. East Tennessee State Buccaneers (23-10, 13-5)
• Date & Time: March 9, 2026, 7:00 PM ET
• Venue: Harrah’s Cherokee Center, Asheville, North Carolina
• Broadcast: ESPN

What is on the Line?

• Furman is fighting for their second NCAA Tournament appearance in the last four years
• This would be ETSU’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011.

The Metrics

KenPom Rankings	ETSU	Furman
Offensive	155th	217th
Defensive	162th	191st
Ad. Tempo (Possessions)	66.2 (248th)	66.1 (255th)
Quad 1 Record	0-2	0-0

Head‑to‑Head & Betting Trends

• ETSU is 2-0 this year against Furman, winning once at home and once on the road.
• Furman is 13-17 against the spread this season.
• ETSU is 14-17 against the spread entering the SoCon title game

 ETSU Top 5 Players

1. Brian Taylor II (14.5 pts, 4.0 reb, 2.8 ast, 1.2 stl, 46.3% FG, 35.1% 3PT).

2. Blake Barkley (14.2 pts, 5.8 reb — leads team, 1.2 ast, 57.8% FG, 35.9% 3PT).

3. Cam Morris III (14.1 pts, 5.3 reb, 1.5 ast, 1.2 blk — leads team, 57.7% FG).

4. Jaylen Smith (8.9 pts, 2.6 reb, 2.9 ast — team assist leader, 1.3 stl).

5. Jordan McCullum (8.3 pts, 3.7 reb, 0.9 stl, 0.9 blk, 52.7% FG).

 Furman Top 5 Players

1. Alex Wilkins (17.3 pts, 2.0 reb, 4.9 ast — team leader, 0.8 stl, 45.2% FG, 30.4% 3PT).

2. Cooper Bowser (13.6 pts, 5.9 reb, 1.7 ast, 1.2 blk, 78.4% FG — elite efficiency).

3. Asa Thomas (13.1 pts, 4.3 reb, 2.1 ast, 39.3% 3PT, 75.0% FT).

4. Charles Johnston (10.1 pts, 9.2 reb — leads team, 1.8 ast, 0.8 stl, 48.6% FG).

5. Tom House (7.7 pts, 2.9 reb, 1.7 ast, 82.4% FT, 29.0% 3PT).

Preview

The matchup sets up as a contrast in styles, and on a neutral floor it should settle into a rhythm where each team tries to force the other out of its comfort zone. Furman will lean heavily on Alex Wilkins to control the pace early, using his passing to get Cooper Bowser and Asa Thomas clean looks before ETSU’s defense can settle in. ETSU, meanwhile, tends to start games by attacking downhill through Brian Taylor II and letting Blake Barkley and Cam Morris III pressure the rim, which could immediately test Furman’s interior rotations. As the game settles, Furman’s rebounding strength behind Charles Johnston may allow them to dictate longer possessions, but ETSU’s ability to generate steals and turn defense into quick points gives them a natural momentum swing whenever the game gets too methodical. The decisive stretch will be late‑clock execution: the team that protects the ball and wins the turnover/rebound battle in the final five minutes should take control.

Groms Pick

This is ETSU’s game to lose after dominating the conference all year. I truly believe WCU was ETSU’s biggest challenge. ETSU has Furman’s number, beating them at home and on the road this season. I do not see things changing come Monday night. It will definitely be a nail bitter and ETSU could see themselves down in the game. It is March, and we all know what can happen. But no magic here.

Take ETSU Moneyline (Up to -162)