CHARLESTON, S.C. (Interstat) — A surging Furman squad looks to rebound from a narrow conference loss when it visits a struggling Citadel team in a Southern Conference men’s basketball matchup Wednesday night at McAlister Field House.

The Paladins (13-6) enter having won five of their last seven games but are coming off a 74-70 home loss to Wofford on Saturday. Furman’s offense, which averages 77.6 points per game, will be tested against a Bulldogs defense that has allowed 80 or more points in seven of its last ten contests.

Citadel (5-14) snapped a four-game skid with an 82-68 road win at Virginia Military Institute last Saturday. The Bulldogs have found recent success behind the high-scoring performances of guard Braxton Williams. The sophomore is averaging 21.8 points over his last five games, including a 25-point effort in a close overtime loss at UNC Greensboro on Jan. 15.

Furman will counter with its own backcourt threat in Abijah Franklin. The guard is coming off a season-high 14 points in 20 minutes off the bench against Wofford. His energy provides a key spark for a Paladins rotation that features four players averaging double-figure scoring.

The teams present a stark contrast in season trajectories. Furman sits firmly in the upper tier of the SoCon standings, while The Citadel is near the bottom. However, the Bulldogs have shown resilience at home, with two of their three conference wins coming at McAlister Field House, including an overtime victory over Western Carolina on Jan. 10.

Historically, Furman has dominated the series, winning the last 12 meetings. In their most recent matchup last February, the Paladins secured a 90-79 victory in Greenville, S.C.

Wednesday’s game will be a critical conference test for both. Furman aims to stay in the hunt for a top seed, while The Citadel seeks to build momentum from its recent win and spring a significant home upset. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.