Asa Thomas tied his career high of 25 points on Saturday afternoon to help Furman snap a three-game losing streak with a 90-72 victory over the VMI Keydets in Southern Conference men’s basketball action inside Cameron Hall.The win improves Furman to 17-10 overall this season and 8-6 in the SoCon. With the loss, VMI drops to 6-21 on the year and 1-13 in conference play.Thomas paced three Paladins in double figures on 8-of-16 shooting while connecting on 6-of-13 attempts behind the 3-point line. The Lake Forest, Ill., native also went 3-for-3 at the free throw line and added five rebounds and five assists. He previously notched 25 points in an 84-76 victory over Charleston Southern at Timmons Arena on December 21, 2025.Cooper Bowser poured in 14 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance and Charles Johnston compiled his 10th double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Tom House contributed nine points on three 3-pointers and Alex Wilkins provided eight points and a game high six assists. TJ Johnson led all players with a game high 26 points for the Keydets. Tan Yildizoglu totaled 13 points and a team best nine rebounds.Thomas knocked down five triples in the opening 20 minutes as Furman built a 45-27 lead at halftime behind 45.2 percent (14-of-31) shooting and limiting VMI to only 7-of-32 (21.9 percent) from the field. Thomas made four straight 3-pointers to start the contest pacing the Paladins to an early 17-6 lead less than four minutes into the contest. The Keydets got to within six points, 23-17, at the 8:42 mark before Furman scored 10 straight over the next 2:27 to go ahead 33-17 with 6:15 to go on Cole Bowser’s 3-pointer. The Paladins led by double digits the remainder of the half and held their largest lead of the game at 45-25 with 2:15 to go when Thomas knocked down another 3-pointer.Furman maintained an 18-point cushion twice in the first four minutes of the second half with Thomas extending its lead to 53-35 with 16:38 remaining. VMI outscored the Paladins 23-12 over a nearly nine-minute stretch and trailed by just seven, 65-58, when Furman halted the run with six consecutive points from Wilkins, Cooper Bowser, and Cole Bowser. That sparked a 23-10 run for the Paladins during the following six minutes. Cooper Bowser’s alley-oop dunk on the fastbreak tied Furman’s largest lead of the game, this time at 88-68, with 1:49 remaining in regulation. The Paladins would combine to shoot 60.7 percent (17-of-28) in the second half with Thomas, Wilkins, and Cooper Bowser combining for 26 points on 10-of-16 attempts.Furman finished the contest shooting over 50 percent for the 12th time this season at 52.5 percent (31-of-59). The Paladins held the advantage in points off turnovers (8-6), points in the paint (32-12), second chance points (12-5), fast break points (11-3), and bench points (24-16).Furman returns to Timmons Arena on Wednesday, February 18, to host league-leading East Tennessee State at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.Minuteman Press is the Official Sponsor of Furman Athletics press releases.
Asa Thomas tied his career high of 25 points on Saturday afternoon to help Furman snap a three-game losing streak with a 90-72 victory over the VMI Keydets in Southern Conference men’s basketball action inside Cameron Hall.
The win improves Furman to 17-10 overall this season and 8-6 in the SoCon. With the loss, VMI drops to 6-21 on the year and 1-13 in conference play.
Thomas paced three Paladins in double figures on 8-of-16 shooting while connecting on 6-of-13 attempts behind the 3-point line. The Lake Forest, Ill., native also went 3-for-3 at the free throw line and added five rebounds and five assists. He previously notched 25 points in an 84-76 victory over Charleston Southern at Timmons Arena on December 21, 2025.
Cooper Bowser poured in 14 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting performance and Charles Johnston compiled his 10 double-double of the season with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Tom House contributed nine points on three 3-pointers and Alex Wilkins provided eight points and a game high six assists.
TJ Johnson led all players with a game high 26 points for the Keydets. Tan Yildizoglu totaled 13 points and a team best nine rebounds.
Thomas knocked down five triples in the opening 20 minutes as Furman built a 45-27 lead at halftime behind 45.2 percent (14-of-31) shooting and limiting VMI to only 7-of-32 (21.9 percent) from the field. Thomas made four straight 3-pointers to start the contest pacing the Paladins to an early 17-6 lead less than four minutes into the contest. The Keydets got to within six points, 23-17, at the 8:42 mark before Furman scored 10 straight over the next 2:27 to go ahead 33-17 with 6:15 to go on Cole Bowser’s 3-pointer. The Paladins led by double digits the remainder of the half and held their largest lead of the game at 45-25 with 2:15 to go when Thomas knocked down another 3-pointer.
Furman maintained an 18-point cushion twice in the first four minutes of the second half with Thomas extending its lead to 53-35 with 16:38 remaining. VMI outscored the Paladins 23-12 over a nearly nine-minute stretch and trailed by just seven, 65-58, when Furman halted the run with six consecutive points from Wilkins, Cooper Bowser, and Cole Bowser. That sparked a 23-10 run for the Paladins during the following six minutes. Cooper Bowser’s alley-oop dunk on the fastbreak tied Furman’s largest lead of the game, this time at 88-68, with 1:49 remaining in regulation.
The Paladins would combine to shoot 60.7 percent (17-of-28) in the second half with Thomas, Wilkins, and Cooper Bowser combining for 26 points on 10-of-16 attempts.
Furman finished the contest shooting over 50 percent for the 12 time this season at 52.5 percent (31-of-59). The Paladins held the advantage in points off turnovers (8-6), points in the paint (32-12), second chance points (12-5), fast break points (11-3), and bench points (24-16).
Furman returns to Timmons Arena on Wednesday, February 18, to host league-leading East Tennessee State at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
Minuteman Press is the Official Sponsor of Furman Athletics press releases.
