LEXINGTON, Va. (Interstat) — Asa Thomas scored 25 points and Furman used a dominant first half to cruise past Virginia Military Institute 90-72 in a Southern Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Cameron Hall.

The Paladins (17-10, 10-4) seized control from the opening tip, building a 45-27 halftime lead that the Keydets (6-21, 2-12) never seriously threatened. The victory snapped a two-game losing skid for Furman and completed a season sweep of VMI.

The most important part of the game was Furman’s blistering start, which effectively decided the contest in the first five minutes. The Paladins opened the game on a 15-0 run, fueled by three-pointers from Thomas and suffocating defense that held VMI scoreless for nearly three minutes. Thomas, a 6-foot-7 guard from Lake Forest, Illinois, hit two of his five three-pointers during that initial burst, setting an immediate tone. VMI’s TJ Johnson finally broke the drought with a three-pointer at the 18:47 mark, but Furman continued its assault, extending the lead to 20-6 just over four minutes into the game. That early cushion allowed the Paladins to manage the game comfortably despite a more competitive second half.

Thomas led all Furman scorers, adding five rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes. He was supported by a balanced effort that saw four other Paladins reach double figures. Cooper Bowser, a 6-11 forward from Woodbridge, Virginia, scored 14 points and blocked three shots. Charles Johnston, a 6-11 center from Sydney, Australia, posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Ben VanderWal of Elmhurst, Illinois, contributed eight points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Tom House added nine points.

For VMI, Johnson, a 6-7 forward from Belton, Texas, delivered a game-high 26 points and grabbed six rebounds in 38 minutes. Tan Yildizoglu of Istanbul, Turkey, finished with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Linus Holmstrom of Stockholm, Sweden, scored 13 points.

Statistically, the game was decided by shooting efficiency. Furman shot 52.5% from the field, making 31 of 59 attempts, while VMI struggled to a 33.3% clip, hitting just 21 of 63. Both teams launched a high volume of three-pointers, with Furman connecting on 13 of 38 and VMI making 13 of 43. The Paladins were more effective inside, outscoring VMI 36-20 in the paint.

Despite committing twice as many turnovers, 12-6, and recording only three assists as a team, Furman’s offensive rating of 124.1 points per 100 possessions dwarfed VMI’s 103.6, illustrating the Paladins’ superior shot-making on the day.

The announced attendance was 2,233. Furman next hosts East Tennessee State on Wednesday. Virginia Military Institute travels to face Wofford on Wednesday.