Preview: Furman Looks to Rebound at Chattanooga in Southern Conference Clash CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Furman Paladins aim to bounce back from a costly overtime loss when they visit the Chattanooga Mocs in a Southern Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at McKenzie Arena. Furman (10-5) enters with the superior record but is coming off a 77-80 home defeat to Western Carolina last Saturday, a game in which it squandered a late lead. The Paladins had won four straight prior to that stumble. Chattanooga (6-9) seeks to build momentum after snapping a three-game skid with a 73-66 win over Alabama A&M on Dec. 21, but has since lost its first two conference games to UNC Greensboro and Virginia Military Institute. The game features a marquee backcourt matchup. Furman is led by dynamic guard Alex Wilkins, who is averaging 22.8 points and 6.6 assists over his last five games. Wilkins scored 24 points in the loss to Western Carolina. Chattanooga will counter with guard Tate Darner, who is coming off a 16-point, 5-rebound performance at VMI. Furman’s offense, averaging over 80 points per game, will test a Chattanooga defense that has allowed 77.3 points per contest. The Paladins have shown balance, with Ben VanderWal adding 11 points and 8 rebounds in the last outing. The Mocs will need more consistent production beyond Darner. Billy Smith provided a spark with 17 points off the bench against VMI, and similar contributions will be vital at home. This marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Greenville, South Carolina, on Feb. 1. Wednesday’s winner will gain an early edge in the conference standings as both teams navigate a packed January schedule. Furman hosts VMI on Saturday, while Chattanooga welcomes Samford. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.