CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — In a stunning reversal of fortune that defied both projections and precedent, The Citadel Bulldogs, anchored by a career-defining performance from Sola Adebisi, erased a 12-point halftime deficit to stun the Furman Paladins 77-75 in overtime Wednesday night in a Southern Conference thriller at McAlister Field House.

The victory, witnessed by 1,433 fans, marked a significant upset. National statistical models had given Furman a 94.2% probability to win, and the Paladins entered as 10-point favorites. The result pushed Furman’s record to 13-7 overall, while The Citadel improved to 6-14.

The narrative of the game fractured sharply at halftime. Furman, executing with precision, built a commanding 40-28 lead by the break. The Paladins’ offense flowed through guard Alex Wilkins of Mattapan, Massachusetts, who orchestrated the action with nine assists to go with his 15 points. Center Charles Johnston, the 6-foot-11 sophomore from Sydney, Australia, provided a formidable interior presence with 15 points and three blocks, helping Furman control the early tempo.

The second half, however, belonged entirely to The Citadel and its relentless forward, Sola Adebisi. The 6-foot-7 junior from Alpharetta, Georgia, who had averaged just 6.0 points over his previous three games, erupted for a game-high 22 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the field, adding two assists and a block in 42 minutes. His energy fueled a Bulldogs resurgence that saw them outscore Furman 39-27 after intermission, methodically chipping away at the lead.

The Citadel’s comeback was a collective effort. Braxton Williams of Thomasville, Alabama, contributed 18 points and five assists, while Christian Moore of Los Angeles added 14 points, including several critical three-pointers during the comeback surge. Marcos Gonzales of Chicago chipped in nine points and five assists.

Furman, meanwhile, saw its offensive cohesion disintegrate. After shooting 51.7% in the first half, the Paladins were held to 34.5% in the second. Beyond Johnston and Wilkins, Ben VanderWal of Elmhurst, Illinois, scored 12 points, and Abijah Franklin of Greenville, South Carolina, added 11 off the bench.

Regulation ended in dramatic fashion. With the score knotted at 67-67, Furman had the final possession but could not get a clean look, sending the game to an extra period.

The overtime session was a tense, back-and-forth affair. The Citadel struck first, building a slim lead it would never relinquish. The most critical sequence came with just three seconds remaining in overtime and The Citadel clinging to a 75-74 lead. Furman’s Cole Bowser fouled Braxton Williams, sending him to the line. Williams calmly sank both free throws to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to three.

After a Furman timeout, the Paladins inbounded to Alex Wilkins, whose potential game-tying three-point attempt from the top of the key missed as time expired, sealing the monumental victory for the home team.

The game’s most important stretch was undoubtedly The Citadel’s second-half defensive stand, which transformed the contest. After allowing Furman to score at will before halftime, the Bulldogs tightened their defense, forced nine second-half turnovers, and contested every shot. This defensive pressure created transition opportunities and allowed Adebisi and Moore to find rhythm. The 22-point swing from a 12-point deficit to a lead they would protect in overtime was a direct product of a collective defensive intensity that was absent in the game’s first 20 minutes.

The victory provides a massive boost for a Citadel program that has struggled this season, while the loss is a damaging misstep for a Furman team with aspirations near the top of the Southern Conference standings.

Furman travels to face UNC Greensboro on Saturday. The Citadel heads to East Tennessee State, also on Saturday.