GAME NOTES: A couple of teams trying to avoid three straight losses hit the floor at Timmons Arena this afternoon, as the Furman Paladins entertain the UNC Greensboro Spartans in Southern Conference action. Furman is no stranger to losing streaks this season, having won a total of just four games thus far. The squad was defeated by Chattanooga on Thursday by a score of 66-63, marking the team's 10th setback in as many tries on the road in 2007-08. As for the Spartans, they've lost three in a row only once before this season, so it is important for the squad to bounce back from a disappointing 59-56 setback to Wofford at home three nights ago. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, the Spartans lead by a count of 8-6 after taking a 75-63 decision in the first meeting of the season back on December 15th at Fleming Gym.

Kyle Hines registered a double-double with team-highs of 22 points and 12 rebounds, but even his efforts were not enough to keep the Spartans out of the loss column versus Wofford earlier in the week. Hines actually came close to posting a triple-double as he logged all seven of the unit's blocked shots as well. In a game that was decided by just three points, UNCG could have easily come out on the winning side if not for 7-of-18 shooting at the free-throw line and 5-of-23 beyond the arc. Hines continues to be one of the most dominant forces in the SoCon this season with his 19.1 ppg and 9.6 rpg. He is shooting an impressive 56.6 percent from the field and has accounted for 65 of the team's 95 rejections, leading the group in steals (33) as well, but his 57.4 percent accuracy at the free-throw line continues to be a concern. Kevin Oleksiak and Mikko Koivisto are credited with scoring 10.8 and 10.7 ppg, respectively.

In a game that saw four ties and six lead changes, the Paladins picked the wrong time to miss their only two chances at the free-throw line as they bowed to Chattanooga on Thursday night on the road. Justin Dehm and George Brozos both tallied 15 points for Furman, the pair combining to shoot 8-of-15 behind the three-point line, while Noah States chipped in 13 points. Of the team's 65 field goal attempts, 42 came from behind the three-point line, with 15 of those falling through. The numerous attempts out on the perimeter are nothing new for the Paladins, who have taken more than 40 percent of their field goal tries from beyond the arc this season. However, with just 33.8 percent of those chances converting, it shouldn't come as a surprise to see the Paladins (61.0 ppg) being outscored by opponents by nearly 11 ppg. Dehm (10.7 ppg) and Alex Opacic (10.3 ppg) are the lone double-digit scorers for the group thus far.

Furman lives and dies by the three-point shot and this season the team is doing a lot more dying than anything else, so expect to see the Spartans get some long rebounds that lead to easy baskets and an easy win.