Preview: East Tennessee State at Furman TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (Interstat) — A pivotal Southern Conference rematch awaits Wednesday night when East Tennessee State visits Furman at Timmons Arena. The Buccaneers (19-8, 8-4 SoCon) edged the Paladins (17-10, 7-5) 75-71 in overtime just two weeks ago in Johnson City. That result tightened the conference standings and sets the stage for a high-stakes February clash with postseason seeding implications. East Tennessee State enters looking to rebound from a tough 82-72 overtime home loss to league-leading Samford on Saturday. Despite the defeat, guard Brian Taylor turned in a stellar performance, scoring 28 points in 44 minutes. Taylor, who had 14 points in the first meeting with Furman, is averaging 18.1 points over his last seven games and will be the focal point of the Buccaneers’ offense. Furman arrives home after a convincing 90-72 road win at Virginia Military Institute on Saturday. The Paladins were led by forward Asa Thomas, who posted 25 points, five rebounds and five assists. Thomas has been a consistent force, scoring in double figures in 10 of his last 11 contests. The Buccaneers hold a slight edge in the conference standings, but Timmons Arena has been a challenge for visitors. Furman is 10-3 at home this season. East Tennessee State, however, has proven resilient on the road with a 7-4 record away from home. Both teams feature balanced scoring attacks. For ETSU, Cam Morris (12 points, 8 rebounds vs. Samford) and Blake Barkley (15 points, 7 rebounds) provide crucial support for Taylor. Furman counters with the interior presence of Cooper Bowser, who had 14 points and three blocks against VMI, and the all-around play of Ben VanderWal. With the SoCon Tournament approaching, every game carries weight. A win for Furman would forge a tie in the loss column with ETSU and complete a regular-season split. A win for the Buccaneers would solidify their hold on second place and deliver a decisive head-to-head advantage. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday.