{"id":7856,"date":"2018-11-19T22:41:06","date_gmt":"2018-11-20T03:41:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/2018\/11\/20\/villanova-upset\/"},"modified":"2022-11-06T20:04:17","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T01:04:17","slug":"villanova-upset","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/villanova-upset\/","title":{"rendered":"Villanova upset caps remarkable nine-day stretch for Furman basketball"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Furman has beaten higher-ranked opponents, and the Paladins have an NCAA tournament win on their resume. Still, it\u2019s tough to argue that the men\u2019s basketball program has notched a bigger victory than Saturday\u2019s 76-68 overtime stunner over defending national champion Villanova in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>The outcome sent shockwaves across the sports world and continued a remarkable early season that has seen Furman hoops receive more media attention in the span of a few days than perhaps at any other time in history.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a look at the scene in the Furman locker room following the game:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">5-0 start \u2705<br \/>Defeat the defending National Champions  and #8 ranked team on their floor \u2705<br \/>Be featured on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SportsCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@sportscenter<\/a> AGAIN \u2705<br \/>Post game celebration \u2705\u2705\u2705<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AllDIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AllDIN<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BetterTogether?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#BetterTogether<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jHY7gDznit\">pic.twitter.com\/jHY7gDznit<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Furman Basketball (@FurmanMBB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FurmanMBB\/status\/1063964175888785408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The Paladins rallied from a 10-point first-half deficit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/m-baskbl\/2018-19\/releases\/20181117vs5p7c\">to defeat the eighth-ranked Wildcats,<\/a>\u00a0who have appeared in two of the last three national championship games, and move to 5-0 on the season for the first time since 1987-88. The result\u00a0pushed Furman into the headlines on a college football Saturday, led to a trending #AllDIN hashtag on social media and motivated hundreds of students and fans to meet the team at Timmons Arena when the players and coaches returned to campus Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>Following is a sampling of some Twitter mentions Furman received in the aftermath of the Villanova upset:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A real Rip Van WinkleTeam in hoops <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FurmanPaladins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@FurmanPaladins<\/a>  have beaten <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/LoyolaChicago?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@LoyolaChicago<\/a> &amp; tonight VILLANOVA \/ UNBELIEVABLE \/ HOOPS HYSTERIA at its best ! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HoopsWeiss?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@HoopsWeiss<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/espnbob?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@espnbob<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/karlravechespn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@karlravechespn<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Dick Vitale (@DickieV) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DickieV\/status\/1063954914630615040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">*Furman pulls the upset*<\/p>\n<p>My brain:<br \/>Don&#39;t say it<br \/>Don&#39;t say it<br \/>Don&#39;t say it<br \/>Don&#39;t say it<br \/>Don&#39;t say it<br \/>Don&#39;t say it<\/p>\n<p>Me: &quot;@FurmanHoops is FURreal!&quot; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fdpvTqokul\">pic.twitter.com\/fdpvTqokul<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CBBonFOX\/status\/1063960402067775488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Furman has only played Villanova twice in history.<\/p>\n<p>Both went overtime.<\/p>\n<p>The Paladins won both.<\/p>\n<p>12 more stats about @FurmanHoops:<br \/>???? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ewAuuijoXp\">https:\/\/t.co\/ewAuuijoXp<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mxXyEepywP\">pic.twitter.com\/mxXyEepywP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MarchMadnessMBB\/status\/1064150087193018368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The season debut of KC&#39;s Mid Major Minute!<br \/>An incredible week-plus for <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CoachRichey?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CoachRichey<\/a> and @furmanhoops culminated with Saturday&#39;s stunner v. Villanova! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AllDIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AllDIN<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FurmanU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@furmanu<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FurmanPaladins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@furmanpaladins<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/SoConSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@SoConSports<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/gLpI3LsQyH\">pic.twitter.com\/gLpI3LsQyH<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Kevin Connors ???? (@kevconnorsespn) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kevconnorsespn\/status\/1064009370143506438?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/twitter.com\/GKozak91\/status\/1064521080805752832<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Thank you to all of the fans that welcomed us back from our trip today! The genuine love and support is greatly appreciated! <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AllDIN?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AllDIN<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/k4YhQbKEt1\">pic.twitter.com\/k4YhQbKEt1<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Furman Basketball (@FurmanMBB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FurmanMBB\/status\/1064278973016928258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 18, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Villanova wasn\u2019t even the first Final Four team from last season that Furman has defeated this year. Clay Mounce\u2019s dunk with 1.6 seconds remaining propelled Furman to a 60-58 win at Loyola-Chicago on Nov. 9, earning him the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2MWEpwJ-Q40\">No. 2 spot<\/a> on SportsCenter: Top 10 Plays of the Week, and six days later Jordan Lyons \u201920 <a href=\"https:\/\/news.furman.edu\/2018\/11\/16\/lyons-ncaa-record-15-3-pointers\/\">tied the NCAA Division I record<\/a> with 15 3-pointers against North Greenville\u2014all 15 of which ended up on a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.espn.com\/video\/clip?fbclid=IwAR3qZ5GVHizgJqVGrA4KtonK4JMA7Dd6o5bx3TIsksNgpNEIGTNJQUdMufQ&amp;id=25289272\">SportsCenter highlight clip<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Lyons, who led the team with 17 points against Villanova, was named National Player of the Week by college basketball journalist Andy Katz Monday. Furman also picked up 50 votes in <a href=\"https:\/\/collegebasketball.ap.org\/poll\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">this week&#8217;s AP poll<\/a>, good enough for 30th in the country.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/m-baskbl\/2018-19\/bios\/rafferty_matt_wrok?view=bio\">Matt Rafferty \u201919<\/a>, native of Hinsdale, Illinois, fueled the Villanova upset with 15 points and a career high 17 rebounds, punctuated by a fadeaway jumper that put Furman up 69-63 with 51.1 seconds left to all but seal the win and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/sports\/college\/ct-spt-furman-upsets-matt-rafferty-hinsdale-20181120-story.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">earn a profile story<\/a> in his hometown paper, the Chicago Tribune.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I saw the shot clock going down, and I knew I needed to make a play. I\u2019ve hit that shot before,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It felt amazing out of the hand, and I think I knew it was in.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>While men\u2019s basketball garnered most of the headlines, the Villanova upset was just one of several outstanding athletic accomplishments for Furman teams and individuals over the weekend. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/c-track\/2018-19\/bios\/templeton_aaron_vqkn?view=bio\">Aaron Templeton \u201919<\/a> became the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/c-track\/2018-19\/releases\/20181117ka18dd\">first All-American in men\u2019s cross country<\/a> in Furman history after finishing fifth at the NCAA Championships Saturday in the snow in Madison, Wisconsin, while <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/c-track\/2018-19\/bios\/carnahan_savannah_t053?view=bio\">Savannah Carnahan \u201920<\/a> earned All-America honors on the women\u2019s side by crossing the line 20<sup>th\u00a0<\/sup>to lead the Paladins to a 23<sup>rd<\/sup>-place team finish.<\/p>\n<p>Also on Saturday, the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/m-footbl\/2018-19\/releases\/20181117rvrvsv\">football team earned a share<\/a> of its 14<sup>th<\/sup>Southern Conference title by defeating Mercer 35-30 in Macon, Georgia. The Paladins, who lost a tiebreaker for the league\u2019s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, ended the year with a 6-4 record after not receiving an at-large bid to the national competition.<\/p>\n<p>The men\u2019s soccer team concluded an outstanding year with a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/m-soccer\/2018-19\/releases\/20181118ormedc\">2-0 loss at Virginia<\/a> Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament, the program\u2019s 11<sup>th<\/sup>. The Paladins defeated UNC-Wilmington in the first round.<\/p>\n<p>The Paladin men&#8217;s basketball program has beaten six teams ranked in the top 10 and three ranked higher than eighth, topped by North Carolina on Feb. 2, 1979, and Davidson on Feb. 13, 1964, when both were No. 4 in the country.<\/p>\n<p>South Carolina was 10th when the Paladins defeated the Gamecocks 75-67 on March 9, 1974, for their only NCAA Tournament win\u2014also in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n<p>You can read more about Furman\u2019s impressive 5-0 start to the 2018-19 season at <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/ncaab\/2018\/11\/17\/villanova-falls-furman-overtime-home\/2044386002\/\">USA Today<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbssports.com\/college-basketball\/news\/college-hoops-shocker-furman-wins-at-villanova-has-beaten-two-final-four-teams-from-last-season\/\">CBSSPORTS.com<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0The team will try to become the first in the 98 years of Furman men\u2019s basketball to start 6-0 when it hosts Southern Wesleyan on Wednesday, Nov. 21, at Timmons Arena.<\/p>\n<p>Tipoff is 6:30 p.m. Tickets to men\u2019s basketball and other athletic events <a href=\"http:\/\/www.furmanpaladins.com\/sports\/tickets\/landing\">can be purchased here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Furman has beaten higher-ranked opponents, and the Paladins have an NCAA tournament win on their resume. Still, it\u2019s tough to argue that the men\u2019s basketball program has notched a bigger [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":265,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7856","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-top-stories"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7856","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/265"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7856"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7856\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7856"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7856"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7856"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}