Furman 69, UNC-Greensboro 59

2/10/2008 4:04 PM

GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) -Forwards Alex Opacic and George Brozos recorded double-doubles to lead Furman past UNC-Greensboro 69-59 in a Southern Conference game here Sunday.

Opacic had game-highs of 19 points and 13 rebounds and Brozos contributed 18 points and 10 boards as the Paladins (5-19, 4-11) posted their largest victory margin of the season and their third win in the last seven games.

Kyle Hines scored 15 points, four under his team-leading average, and Kevin Oleksiak added 11 for the Spartans (13-9, 7-6), who dropped their third straight.

Opacic and Brozos each netted 11 in the first half as Furman built a 24-13 lead on Opacic's tip-in at the 8:27 mark before UNC-Greensboro rallied to close the gap to 32-30 at intermission.

The Paladins regained control early in the second half, going ahead 44-36 on two Brozos free throws at the 15:44 mark. The Spartans pulled within one at 46:45 on Dwayne Johnson's runner in the lane at 10:24, but Connor Nolte's 16-footer on Furman's next possession ignited a 14-4 run for a 60-49 lead with 3:20 left in the game.

The Spartans were beset by poor field goal shooting, converting just 31 percent in the first half and 29 percent in the second. UNC-Greensboro made just seven of 34 from three-point range in the second half.