GAME NOTES: The seventh-seeded Citadel Bulldogs and 10th-seeded Furman Paladins will close out first-round action of the Southern Conference Tournament on Friday evening, as the two team meet at the U.S. Cellular Center.

The winner of this game will move into Saturday's quarterfinals against two- seed Chattanooga.

Niko Medved's Paladins struggled all season long, finishing with a conference- worst 8-21 overall record, while residing in the Southern Conference cellar with a 5-13 league ledger. The team was able to bring an end to a seven-game losing streak with a win over Western Carolina last week and then almost pulled off a huge upset of SoCon champion Wofford in the season-finale, falling to the Terriers by just two points (62-60). Furman has a rich tradition in this event, with six SoCon titles to its credit, although the last one was way back in 1980.

Chuck Driesell's Bulldogs weren't all that much better this season, finishing at 11-18 overall and 6-13 in SoCon play. The team did split its last six games, but does enter the postseason after a 67-54 loss to Western Carolina in the regular-season finale. The Citadel is one of four teams in the conference without a tournament title to its credit. The Bulldogs are a mere 12-61 in this event all-time.

These two teams split a pair of meetings in the regular season, with each winning on its home floor.

Furman was without star guard Stephen Croone but still shot an impressive .500 from the floor and got 38 points from its bench against SoCon champion Wofford last weekend. The biggest difference came at the free-throw line, where the Terriers outscored the Paladins, 19-5 in the narrow decision. The setback for Furman spoiled a strong performance by John Davis, who led all scorers with 20 points. Devin Sibley poured in 15 points for Furman, while Kendrec Ferrara added 14 points in the loss.

Strong and efficient offensive performances have not been the norm for Furman this season. The Paladins come into the postseason averaging a modest 63.4 ppg on .427 shooting. The team suffered from a -5.7 scoring margin this season and also was saddled with a -2.7 turnover margin. Still, the team does boast of one of the conference's top performers in Croone, who earned all-conference honors, finishing fifth in the league in scoring at 17.2 ppg. However, a strained abdominal has him listed as questionable for the start of the tournament. Sibley (10.1 ppg) also had a strong season and as a result was named the SoCon Freshman of the Year.

The Bulldogs were done in by a superb shooting performance by Western Carolina in the regular-season finale, as the Catamounts shot a scorching .587 from the floor, compared to the Citadel's mere .357 effort. The Bulldogs were led in the scoring column by Jake Wright, who netted all 15 of his points from behind the arc (5-of-9). Ashton Moore and Brian White added 13 points apiece for the Citadel in the loss.

Moore has had a phenomenal season as the leader of the Bulldogs. The 6-0 senior was named to the All-SoCon First-Team and ranks fourth in the league in scoring (18.3 ppg) and sixth in assists (3.6 apg). Senior center P.J. Horgan (11.9 ppg) is a solid second option in terms of scoring and tops the team in rebounding (6.4 rpg). Wright (9.1 ppg), a 6-4 freshman, was named to the All-SoCon Freshman Team.

The Bulldogs will have the upperhand in this contest, especially if Croone is unable to suit up for the Paladins.