Furman Tops Bethune-Cookman 79-70 in Opener
Furman opened its season with a 79-70 win over Bethune-Cookman in Rock Hill on Monday.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball
Furman defeated Bethune-Cookman 79-70 on Monday in a season opener for both teams in Rock Hill, S.C. Charles Johnston and Tom House led the Paladins' scoring with 23 and 22 points, respectively.
Why it matters
The win gives Furman an early statement result as it begins a season that continues at home against Bob Jones on Wednesday. For Rock Hill fans, it marks the first home-court outing of the year for the Paladins.
Tom House went 4 of 8 from the floor, 2 of 4 from three-point range and 12 of 16 from the free-throw line in the win. Charles Johnston added 11 rebounds alongside his 23 points, while Marcus Kell scored 14 points on 4 of 11 shooting.
The players
Furman Paladins
The Furman University men's basketball program competes in the Southern Conference and is based in Greenville, South Carolina.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats
The Bethune-Cookman University men's basketball program competes in the NCAA Division I Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Charles Johnston
Johnston is a Furman men's basketball player who led his team with 23 points and 11 rebounds in the season opener.
Tom House
House is a Furman men's basketball player who scored 22 points and shot 12 of 16 from the free-throw line in the season opener.
The details
Furman outscored Bethune-Cookman 79-70 in a season opener played in Rock Hill. Johnston and House carried the scoring load for the Paladins, while Bethune-Cookman's Mari Jordan scored 22 points in the losing effort.
Timeline
Monday, November 2, 2026: Furman defeats Bethune-Cookman 79-70 in season opener
Wednesday, November 4, 2026: Furman plays Bob Jones at home
Thursday, November 5, 2026: Bethune-Cookman visits Texas Tech
Season Trajectory
The season-opening result gives Furman an early data point in a non-conference slate that will test its standing before Southern Conference play begins. Bethune-Cookman's next game at Texas Tech will show how the Wildcats' opening loss shapes their early-season path.
Tom House's 12-of-16 free-throw performance is the kind of efficiency that matters in close Southern Conference games later in the year. For fantasy players and local fans tracking Furman, Johnston's double-double makes him an early contributor to watch.
The takeaway
Early-season box scores like this one show which players are carrying the load before conference play starts, so keep an eye on how Furman's scoring spreads across its lineup in the next two games.
What happens next
Furman hosts Bob Jones on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, and Bethune-Cookman visits Texas Tech on Thursday, November 5, 2026.
Further reading
Follow the rest of the season in our Basketball coverage for Rock Hill.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS Sports.
