GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Amu Saaka had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Furman to a 72-54 win over North Greenville on Friday night in the season opener for both teams.
Darryl Evans added 18 points and Noah States had 15 points and seven assists in the first game in history between the neighboring schools.
The Division II Crusaders stayed close in the first half, trailing 29-25 at intermission.
Evans opened the second half with a 3-pointer, but North Greenville’s Tyrell Platt and Luke Lattimer made baskets to cut the lead to 32-29. Furman used a 7-0 run to pull away and the Crusaders could get no closer than five points the rest of the way.
Leading 57-50, the Paladins had a 12-0 spurt to take their biggest lead at 19 points.
